Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger says his administration is open to constructive media criticism to place the state on the path of development.
Bello made said this on Sunday at the Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) 2016 Press Week Award Show in Minna.
“We are always ready to partner with the media. We want you to criticise us when we are going wrong.
“That is the only way to get things right and move our dear state forward,” he said
The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vatsa,announced that Niger would have full digital television and radio stations by December.
According to him, the state-owned Newsline Newspapers would also move from weekly to daily publication in 2017.
He promised to create an enabling atmosphere for journalists to effectively carry out their constitutional duty in the state.
The state Chairman of the NUJ, Malam Mohammed Mohammed, said the awardees were chosen in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the development of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the awardees include Sen. David Umaru; the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vatsa and Mr Abdulmalik Bosso, a member of the state assembly.
Others are the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammadu; Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Dr. Abubakar Dzukogi and Prof. Faruq Haruna, Povost of the state College of Education.
Sen. Umaru said the recognition would spur them to do more for their constituents, adding that the state was poised for greatness. (NAN)