The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council has appealed to Delta State Government to shore up budgetary provisions to the State Bureau of Orientation, insisting the Directorate has more work to do consistently in mindset reorientation campaigns.
The Union leaders in the State, ably led by Comrade Michael Ikeogwu as Chairman, made this appeal when they paid a familiarization and collaborative visit to the DG of the Bureau, Mr. Eugene Uzum Esq., on Thursday 17th December, 2020, at his office.
Ikeogwu commended the DG for his dogged support to Okowa led administration in terms of its vision to restore the orientation of values, hardwork and standard morals.
He noted however, that the Bureau had much to do in preventive campaigns, other than curative which often was seen with their activities in cases of flooding, outbreak of diseases like Covid-19, Yellow Fever and the rest.
The NUJ Chairman called on Government to make more budgetary commitments to the Bureau, rather than having Orientation budgets across the MDAs.
Ikeogwu assured of NUJ’s partnership and collaboration with the Bureau in order to assist with proper information and orientation management, being part of the Union’s functions in correcting the ills of society as the Watchdog.
The DG, Uzum responded by appreciating the NUJ for the visit, while also congratulating them on their hard fought victory from their recent State election.
Asking the Union to join the Bureau in partnership towards prosecuting the conscious effort of mindset reorientation campaigns of Government, he affirmed that he so much desire the tenacity, team spirit and leadership which he had just witnessed.
As the Local Government Election is close to call in the State, Uzum called on the NUJ to support the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC to succeed in its assignment of conducting credible, free and fair Council elections across the state on March 6, 2021.
According to him, “Governance is about understanding the problems of society and solving them. One cannot be well informed and not have the right orientation, it then means nothing is achieved in trying to positively change the thinking of society. There are information available against the practice of cultism, rape, child abuse, kidnapping, etc, but people, even well educated people still indulge in all of these vices and crimes. What has happened is that there is information but orientation is missing.
“The Orientation Bureau has enormous task ahead. The Governor has done marvelously well in supporting us to achieve our purpose.
“And so I appreciate the concern of NUJ to collaborate with us. Orientation is key to a well informed society; and together we shall be consolidating on mindset reorientation that brings about the right information”, Uzum stated.