Former National Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Tims Ejiga, has called on government at all levels to accord the media its due recognition as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
Ejiga made the call during a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Director-General of Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation (FM 94.1), Hajia Nana Hauwa Yussuff, alongside former national and state officers of the union.
He urged governments to prioritize public-funded media organizations, providing adequate equipment, logistics, and staff welfare to enable them perform optimally.
Ejiga emphasized that as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, after the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary, the media deserves attention and support.
He commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his efforts in repositioning the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation and urged continued support for the media industry.
“If the media is the Fourth Estate of the Realm in a Democracy after the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, then attention must be paid adequately to public funded government-owned media organisations.”
He observed that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s body language, from the onset, had been that of a restoration governor as within seven months of his administration, he had right some of the wrongs perpetrated by past administrations.
Ejiga further implored Governor Ododo to transform the state broadcasting organization with his “Midas’ Touch” saying, “I believe the state Media industry as a whole deserves restoration.”
He also called for restoration of the Executive Cadre in the Directorate, along with the financial benefits as well as Life Assurance for journalists and media workers in the state saying the job of a journalist is a delicate one.
Speaking earlier, a former chairman of Kogi State Council of the NUJ, Mr Emmanuel Boro urged the new Director General to carry all cadre of staff along and give them sense of belonging to motivate them for higher productivity.
Boro pledged the continued support of the group saying, “we will support you fully to ensure that you succeed. We shall be behind you, before you and by your side.”
Alhaji Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh, General Manager of FRCN, Prime FM 101.5 and immediate past Chairman of Kogi Council called on the state government to provide the new DG with the necessary working tools to enable her excel.
“Like somebody who has been given farmland to farm, she surely needs a hoe and cutlass to work on the farm with good seeds to plant”, he said.
In her response, Hajia Nana Hauwa Yussuff, the newly appointed DG of the Corporation, expressed gratitude to God Almighty and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for the appointment.
She said that God probably gave her the position to change the narrative and the story of Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation as she confessed that news crew of the station used to go to Mount Patti on motor bikes.
The DG however noted that governor Ododo changed the narrative upon assumption office as governor as he quickly approved the release of a Hilux van and a Sienna bus for the station to operate with.
She thanked the veteran journalists for the visit saying that she would not fail them or the government as she pledged to run an open-door policy with an inclusive administration where everyone matters and is given a sense of belonging. (Ends)1