In a major boost to the welfare of media practitioners in Kogi State, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has approved the immediate enrolment of 45 journalists from the federated and correspondents’ chapels into the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme (KGSHIS).
The State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this on Wednesday while delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Governor at the 2026 Press Week organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Lokoja.
Fanwo noted that while journalists on the state government’s payroll are already beneficiaries of the health insurance scheme, Governor Ododo extended the coverage to the 45 remaining active journalists operating within the state to ensure their health and well-being are adequately safeguarded.
Addressing members of the press, the Commissioner emphasized that a healthy workforce remains vital to sustaining a vibrant press. He stressed that while the pen remains mightier than the sword in shaping an egalitarian society, journalists must prioritize their health to effectively carry out their constitutional responsibilities.
Detailing the administration’s ongoing interventions in the state’s media sector, Fanwo announced that the State Executive Council recently approved the complete overhaul of Radio Kogi House to boost broadcasting capacity and coverage across the state. He assured that state-owned media institutions, including The Graphic Newspaper, are being repositioned, reinvigorated, and re-engineered to deliver reliable news and mobilize civic participation in governance.
The Information Commissioner urged journalists to uphold strict professional ethics, practice developmental journalism, and refrain from sensational reporting. He cited instances where fake and misleading news caused unnecessary panic and harmed investment prospects, cautioning that reporting unverified security scares undermines the state’s economic growth and job creation efforts.
Highlighting the achievements of the Ododo-led administration, Fanwo revealed that Kogi State currently devotes more than the UNESCO benchmark to education, offering free basic and secondary education from Primary 1 to Senior Secondary 3 (SS3). He also highlighted major infrastructural strides, including solar-powered primary health centers, ongoing township road projects, and landmark tertiary infrastructure such as the engineering college at CUSTECH, Osara, and modernized medical student hostels.
On macro-economic stability, the Commissioner credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification reforms for improving federal allocations to states. He stated that the enhanced revenues have enabled Kogi State to meet salary obligations seamlessly while aggressively funding capital projects, including the Lokoja International Market and the ongoing development of the Kogi International Airport, slated for commissioning by next year.
Fanwo further commended the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) for exceeding its annual revenue targets by expanding the tax net rather than burdening citizens with increased taxes, noting that sustained revenue generation remains critical to funding state infrastructure and public utilities.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Kogi State Government to providing a secure and enabling environment for media personnel to practice without intimidation, calling on the NUJ to maintain its partnership with the administration in projecting the true potential, natural resources, and cultural heritage of the state.
The NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdul, called on journalists to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality and accountability in their reportage, particularly as the country prepares for another election cycle.
“As journalists, we are custodians of public trust and vital partners in democratic development. Our responsibility is to inform the electorate accurately, hold public officials accountable and promote transparency, peace and responsible political participation.
“I therefore urge our colleagues to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality and accountability in their reporting. We must resist the temptation to publish unverified information, sensational claims, hate speech and politically motivated narratives capable of misleading the public or threatening national peace. Our duty is to report elections, not inflame them; to inform the electorate, not manipulate it; and to hold power accountable without fear or favour,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ, Kogi State Council, Comrade Ademu Seidu, described this year’s Press Week as a period of stocktaking, reflection, thanksgiving, service and celebration.
He appreciated Governor Ododo for his consistent support for the union and sustained collaboration with journalists in the state.
The chairman also expressed profound gratitude to Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo for serving as a bridge between the government and the media, assuring that the union would continue to promote objective, constructive and responsible journalism in the discharge of its duties.
