The Speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, Mr Chukwuma Nwazunku, on Thursday called on journalists to apply the tenets of fairness and objectivity in their reporting.

By The Citizen

Nwazunka made the call when members of the Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists paid him a courtesy visit in Abakaliki.

He said that such virtue would save the nation from disintegration and protect its integrity, while also preventing chaos, bitterness and rancour among the citizens.

“As members of the fourth estate of the realm, journalists have the onerous task of preserving the country’s entity and ability to contribute effectively to the transformation agenda,” he said.

The speaker advised journalists in Ebonyi to partner with the three tiers of government to fast-track the development of the state.

He suggested that development journalism should be practically imbued in the profession to record speedy advancement of the rural communities.

”I commend the peaceful co-existence between journalists, the executive and the law makers in the state.

”This relationship, which was built on mutual understanding, is healthy for our democracy and the economic growth of the state,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the chapel, Mr Jacob Ogodom, promised that journalists in the state would continue to partner with the legislators and other tiers of the government.

Ogodom said the aim was to enable members of the fourth estate of the realm to propagate the lofty programmes and policies of the government.

He also appealed to the law makers to carry the journalists along in the business of law-making.