The place of Community Newspapers in National Development has been described as a veritable tool to the sustenance of democracy.
Pharm Yunusa Nasiru, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, stated this when he received in audience, the leadership of Federated Chapel of the Kogi State NUJ in his office.
Alh. Nasiru described Community Newspapers as the closest medium of information to reach people living at the rural areas, disclosed that the State Government is ready to partner with the Community Newspapers to help to embolden the performances of the Capt Idris Wada administration.
While noting that seventy percent of the citizens live in rural areas, the CoS said government intends using the Community Newspapers to inform the people of government activities and programs which he noted has been vigorously pursued since the present administration came on board.
Alh. Nasiru appealed to the publishers to use their medium to correct several wrong perception created about the present administration, disclosing that the administration has remained committed to infrastructural and human development in the last three years.
Aside ensuring the regular payment of salaries, pension and gratuity until a drastic drop in allocation by 40% , Nasiru listed other achievements of the present administration of the Capt Wada lead administration in the roads, Housing, Health and Agricultural sector as superlative, described the present administration as one that has met the yearning and aspiration of the people, amidst drastic drop in revenue accruing to States of the Federation.
The Chief of Staff assured of a working partnership with the community Newspapers, described them as the vehicle to positively reach people at the grassroots.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Ade Bada, Secretary, Credentials Committee of the Federated Chapel, described the community based Newspapers as a veritable medium to reach people living at the rural areas, but lamented that the sector which had not been adequately utilized in the last years by the present administration, account for the misinformation about government policies and programs.
Mr. Bada commended the contribution of the CoS to the transformation agenda of Capt Idris Wada, said the Community Newspapers in the State are ready to partner with the State Government in disseminating information to rural areas of the State, an area he explained accommodate a large population of the state.