….NUJ hails Gbajabiamila, Wase for appointing member
Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed excitement over the membership of his recently appointed media team.
The Speaker said he is excited because his media team is populated by young people whom he described as vibrant and ready to work in the interest of Nigeria.
Speaking during his maiden meeting with members of his media team in Abuja on Saturday, Gbajabiamila said he personally conducted searches on each of the six members of the media team and that he was satisfied with their pedigree.
He said as far as he could remember, this is the first media team by any Speaker with the highest number of young people.
Gbajabiamila said although the task ahead of his media team would be tough, he believed the members have the capacity to deliver.
“I’m so excited by this team because you’re mostly young people. I did my personal search on each of you, and I came to the conclusion that you all should be part of my media team. I’m not the only one excited about your appointments; a lot of people are excited about you people, and I feel good about that.
“Of course moving forward, Nigeria is all about young people. I know the task ahead of you will be very tough, but I also know that you all have the capacity to deliver,” he said.
The Speaker restated his commitment to his campaign slogan, which is ‘Nation Building: A Joint Task,’ calling on the members of his media team to join him in achieving that.
He said he would bring reforms that would help shape and redefine the Nigerian legislature in the eyes of the public, some of which are already being rolled out such as the e-parliament and electronic voting.
The Speaker said the House under him would do everything possible to change the wrong perception of the public about the Legislature.
Responding, the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Olanrewaju Lasisi, who is the leader of the team, thanked the Speaker for finding him and the five other members worthy of being appointed into his media team.
Lasisi said he along with other members of the team would bring their experience to bear in justifying the confidence the Speaker had on them before appointing them to work for him.
Other members of the Speaker’s media team, appointed on Thursday, are Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Chief Press Secretary; Dele Anofi, Special Assistant, Print Media; Kunle Somoye, Special Assistant on Electronic and Broadcast Media; Bukola Ogunyemi, Special Assistant on New Media, and Ayo Adeagbo, Special Assistant on Visual Communication/Official Photographer.
NUJ hails Gbajabiamila, Wase for appointing members
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Correspondents’ Chapel has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase for appointing its members as his media aides.
In a statement issued Sunday in Abuja and jointly signed by the Chairman of the Chapel, Philip Nyam and the Secretary, Jide Oyekunle, the body commended Gbajabiamila and Wase saying by these appointments, they have confirmed their confidence in Nigerian media.
The statement read: ” Your Excellency, you have broken the jinx that have existed over the years with the appointment of round pegs in round holes, which will continue to be a reference point in the annals of history. It gladdens our heart that you have taken professionalism and expertise in selecting your information managers.
” We commend you for appointing these highly proficient persons, Lanre Lasisi of Channels TV, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi of Daily Trust, Chief Press Secretary and Dele Anofi of The Nation Newspapers as Special Assistant (Print Media).
“We equally appreciate the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase for appointing Mohammed Umar Puma of Peoples Daily Newspapers as Chief Press Secretary”
” It is our hope that these highly cerebral and tested journalists imbued with experience will contribute immensely towards the achievement of your policy agenda of ” Nation Building; a Joint Task.
According to the Chapel, by choosing to appoint journalists who report from the House of Representatives as their aides, it is an indication that both presiding officers appreciate the media and the exploits of those they have chosen.
The Chapel noted that Gbajabiamila is the first speaker and in deed the first presiding officer ever in the history of the Nigerian parliament to appoint three journalists covering the same beat as his media aides at the same time.
“It is gratifying to note that the speaker respects professionalism. Instead of appointing nonprofessionals, the speaker has acknowledged the contributions of the journalists reporting the Parliament, and handed them the responsibility of managing his image. This is a master stroke and we believe with these appointments, the 9th House would have a seamless working relationship with the media”
” We congratulate Lanre Lasisi, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity; Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Chief Press Secretary and Dele Anofi, the Special Assistant (print media) and Mohammed Umar Puma, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker on their well deserved appointments.
“We urge you not to betray the confidence the speaker has in you, the House Press Corps and Nigerian journalism in general.
“We can attest to the fact that these three gentlemen are journalists of high standing; and we have no doubt that they will do the journalism profession proud and serve the nation with the best of their ability”, the statement stated.
” Mr. Speaker, the chapel will like to assure you that our members covering House of Representatives will continue to collaborate with the 9th National Assembly to ensuring strategic communication of your policies and programmes”, the group assured.
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