Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with the media as strategic partners in promoting transparency, accountability, and openness in governance.

Diri made this pledge yesterday when the newly elected leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, led by Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa.

Congratulating the NUJ executives, the governor recognized journalists as crucial agents of democratic accountability and assured that his Prosperity Administration would collaborate with them to enhance good governance and fulfill his prosperity agenda.

He urged journalists to maintain objectivity in their reporting, emphasizing the need for balanced coverage that fosters development, peace, and unity rather than divisive narratives.

As part of his support for the media, Diri directed the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiwou Koku-Obiyai, to work with the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, to renovate the NUJ Secretariat and address flooding issues at the premises. 

He also pledged his support for the proposed Bayelsa Media Summit, the first of its kind by any state NUJ council in Nigeria.

In response, NUJ Chairman, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, assured that the union would continue collaborating with the state government and media stakeholders to positively project Bayelsa’s image and attract investors and tourists.

He emphasized the media’s role in societal development and stated that the new NUJ leadership in Bayelsa aims to be actively involved in state affairs in line with its responsibilities.

Yemoleigha praised the government’s ongoing three senatorial road projects, highlighting their potential to drive socio-economic transformation and harness Bayelsa’s Blue Economy. 

He also commended the newly constructed and rehabilitated roads for enhancing the capital’s aesthetics and expressed hope that the administration would sustain its urban renewal efforts.

He further noted that journalists, like other Bayelsans, eagerly anticipate the arrival and installation of gas turbines, which he believes will significantly boost the state’s economy.