By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Special Adviser on Media Communications and Strategy to the Niger State Governor, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, has identified why the developmental strides of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago led All Progressive Congress (APC) administration is not getting adequate publicity.
Vatsa observed that the reason was what he described as 'noticeable gap' between journalists in the state and the Niger state government.
He made the observation during an interaction with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondent chapel at the weekend, and expressed worry that the 'New Niger state of our collective dreams' agenda of Governor Bago have been under reported. As media adviser to the governor, Vatsa therefore promised to look into the possibility of bridging gap for a more robust working relationship.
Vatsa who had served as Publicity Secretary of APC of the Niger state chapter, and Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism argued that under reporting of government policies and programmes by the Correspondent's chapel led to almost 60 percent of Governor's infrastructural developmental initiatives were not known to the outside world.
The former National Coordinator of the National Democratic Forum (NDF) who played pivotal role in the emergence of the APC administration in Niger state however expressed readiness to advise Governor Bago on the need to work closely with the media, Correspondent chapel in particular to enable them report the state government events.
Vatsa expressed the urgent need to close the gap between practicing journalists and the Bago led administration overall interest of the state.
He recalled his years as the NDF Coordinator, a platform he used to checkmate the last People's Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state saying, “The media is very important to us, and we need you more than you need us. But unfortunately, for some years now we have not had that good working synergy for some time now, hence the need to call for effective working synergy to publicize the projects, activities and programmes of the visionary leadership of Bago".
"I want us to build on the already established relationship, and see how we can further bridge the gap for a better and improved partnership", Vatsa said.
While urging the chapel members to put issues about past strained relationship behind them, Vatsa said, “From this moment, the Governor will re-ignite the relationship between the government and Correspondents’ chapel so that the formers activities can get wider publicity as required”.
Responding, Chairman of Correspondents’ chapel, Comrade Yakubu Mustapha Bina bemoaned years of neglect and ill-treatment members had to endure due to bad advise to Bago.
As the fourth in estate of the realm, Mustapha reminded Vatsa that Correspondents’ chapel are not enemies as being insinuated in some quaters but partners in progress as professionals carrying out their constitutional duties. NNL.
