***Urges Government to Treat Media as Critical Stakeholder, Not Liability
The Special Adviser to the Niger State Governor on Communications, Media and Strategy, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has declared that the Nigerian media remains central to the survival and growth of democracy in the country.
Vatsa made the remark on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council, in Minna. The visit is part of his ongoing statewide media engagement tour.
The former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state lamented what he described as the continued disregard for the media by political leaders, despite the institution’s pivotal role in democratic consolidation.
“Politicians must understand that they need the media more than the media needs them,” he said. “It is unfortunate that many leaders have failed to recognize the media as a critical partner in governance.”
Vatsa acknowledged the instrumental role the press played in the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections, noting that “the media can make or mar any government.”
He said his visit was aimed at rebuilding trust and fostering synergy between the media and the administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago under the “New Niger Agenda.”
“There’s been a communication gap between the government and the Correspondents’ Chapel, which must be bridged. We want to work together to promote the Governor’s vision and showcase the development strides across the state,” he added.
Vatsa pledged to brief the Governor on the outcome of his meeting with journalists and assured that steps would be taken to renew and strengthen government-media relations going forward.
“We are committed to ensuring the activities and achievements of the present administration receive the visibility they deserve. The Correspondents’ Chapel is a key player in this process,” he emphasized.
In his response, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Yakubu Mustapha Bina, welcomed the olive branch and pledged cooperation but lamented the neglect of the Chapel by the current administration over the past two years.
“We are not enemies of the government, as some believe. We are professionals fulfilling our constitutional duty to inform the public,” Bina said.
Earlier, Vatsa paid a similar visit to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council, as part of efforts to foster a more open, responsive relationship between the government and the press.