Port Harcourt, May 18, 2016 – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State chapter, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be open to journalists who approach it for information and confirmation of reports.
Chairman of NUJ in the state, Omoni Ayo-Tamuno made the call when a delegation from the Media Unit of the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC, paid an advocacy visit to the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre (NUJ Secretariat) in Port Harcourt.
Ayo-Tamuno said, “As a security agency, it behoves on the EFCC to constantly deal with the media. The issue of secrecy is also not helping journalism and the society at large. When there are issues and journalists are there to ask for information, they should be obliged with the information.”
He advised officials of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to ensure that they live by example as the government is all out in the fight against corruption, pointing that the only way to win the war against corruption is when the leaders are corrupt-free.
“EFCC is a very important organ of government, especially to the present administration that has brought the fight against corruption to the front burner. Corruption is everywhere, no one is exempted and the only way we can deal is when our leaders are corrupt free; it will affect everybody.
“We expect the government that is preaching against corruption to be exemplary. Sometimes, the head will not be corrupt, but those under him will be corrupt and when it happens, it rubs off on him. For Mr. President to carry out this assignment well, EFCC is the number one agency needed to perform this duty.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Head, Media Unit, EFCC Office in Port Harcourt, Mr. Dele Oyewale, advocated for closer ties between the NUJ and the anti-corruption agency, saying that a good relationship between the duo will be of great benefit to the union and the EFCC.
“We decided to visit the NUJ so that there will be a relationship between the union and our unit. The work that we do affects all of us; so it is important that we have working relationship, positive interactions and understanding in the way that we do our work.
“Through you, we will be able to interface with some of our other colleagues, who are under the umbrella Union, NUJ, because, we cannot just be going to media houses one after the other. We decided to come around and see the union for a hand of fellowship. This visit is a hand of fellowship from the media unit of our office to the union and to all of our colleagues in Rivers State for us to work together,” he said.
