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Media practitioners have been told to always present the true position of things in their reportage before the general public.
The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, gave the charge today in Asaba when he coordinated the turns of the Ministries of Health and Lands and Surveys at the ongoing ministerial press briefing, held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Asaba.

Mr Ukah bemoaned the attitude of media practitioners hiding important fact from the general public, saying such would help to give the people a better understanding of government policies and programmes and in the process gain public confidence of government.

The Commissioner, who was responding to a question of government not having the will power to implement some of its people and development oriented policies, noted that government had the will power but needed the understanding and support of the media.

He noted that when the media give the requisite support through emphasis on the good that the implementation of government policies would bring to the generality of Deltans, such would naturally engender the people to support government rather than oppose government.

On the issue of the land housing the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State Council on Maryam Babangida Way in Asaba, he said the Union should be rest assured of the State Government’s readiness to address the issue.

The Information Commissioner announced that any time from now, the approved amount for the completion of the secretariat would be released.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner has urged Information Officers to develop themselves so as to project government well to the people.
Mr Ukah made the call when Information Officer from the 25 Local Government Areas, under the aegis of Field Information Officers Chapel of the NUJ paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba.
He said Information Officers could join professional associations like the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Nigerian Institute of Markers (MINM), Advertising Practitioners Association of Nigeria and other professional bodies where they could develop themselves to be more relevant on their job.
He pointed out that by joining these professional bodies they would enhance their knowledge of the job and enable them handle issues relating to government, especially perception problem at the Local Government Area, saying “It is your duty to project government. Take aspect that the government is doing well and sell to the people.” He said.
He urged them to, “Believe in themselves, be creative and distinguished yourselves as civil servants. See your selves as professionals.”
Ukah, who described the visit as very appealing to him said that it coincided with the 10th anniversary of the demise of his mother, stating instead of being sad, the visit had brought joy to him.
He promised to make information officers in the field offices a work station even he said that he would provide necessary working tools for the officers in the field office.
Earlier the leader of the Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Balogun Mabamije, thanked the Commissioner for being a promise keeper, saying that they had come to say thank you to the Commissioner for his numerous achievements in uplifting the Ministry of Information.
A minute silence was observed in honour of the late mother of the Commissioner.
Highpoints of the visit was the presentation of working gadgets to the PEOs by the Commissioner and the presentation of an Art Work of the Commissioner by the PEOs to the Commissioner.