News
Media Not Seen as Adversary To Government, Criticism You Must Do – Alake

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake has said that the Federal Government does not see the mass media as an adversary, but a tool to put the administration on its toes. adsbygoogle || []). push({});
Alake made this known at a meeting with media executives on Friday 28th July, 2023 in Abuja.
According to him, at the end of the day, both the media and government operate in the same society.
“If we are practising adversary journalism and we create problems in our society, where are we going to practise,” Alake asked.
He said the meeting was to seek the understanding and buying-in of the media to ongoing fundamental policy initiatives of the Tinubu government that were necessary for the country’s development.
He implored the media to practise responsive journalism, saying this was critical to avoid heating up the polity and misleading the public.
“When there is genuine course to criticise the government, do it constructively and also suggest and proffer solutions to issues affecting the country.
“It is important that even when we are angry at what is going on in the country, we should still apply that sense of responsibility in our reportage so that even after venting our anger, we will still have a society to live in to practice our profession and thrive,” he said.
Alake explained that government did not see the media as enemy because of its criticism, saying that criticism was part of democracy.
“Criticism you must do because it is an integral part of democracy; however, what is obnoxious is destructive criticism, you have to engage in constructive criticism.
“When you engage in constructive criticism, the person you are criticising will enjoy that criticism because you will be proffering solutions to challenges at the end of the day.
“The language of criticism should not be repulsive as some of our colleagues do, we can always criticise in decent language and make very good points that the recipient will take you very serious,” he said.
On the removal of fuel subsidy by the Tinubu administration, Alake said without confronting the rot and naughty issues in the petroleum sector, we would just be groping in the dark as a country while feeding a few to the detriment of the larger majority.
According to him, if past administrations had been bold enough to remove subsidy on petroleum products, we would have had enduring structures on ground and would not be where we are today.
Alake said Tinubu came to office to make positive impact and to make a name not to acquire material things which he already had.
“The only thing he is fighting for now is legacy and for it to be said that in his life and in his time as president, Nigeria was strengthened out and put on the part of full recovery,” Alake said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media and Publicity of the defunct All Progressives Congress (APC), Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), called on Nigerians to support the Tinubu administration to enable it to deliver on its campaign promises.
Onanuga, a former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also implored the media to try as much as possible to moderate what they pushed out to the public and be mindful of their headlines.
He stressed that the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government was in the general interest of Nigerians, adding that they would get used to it over time.
He called on the media to shift attention to state governments and to interrogate them on how they spent their federal allocations, noting that attention should not just be only on the Federal Government.
“We should support government intervention policies, shift attention to state governments and interrogate them on how they spend their federal allocations and as media gate keepers, we have a lot to do to sanitise this country,“ Onanuga said.
Author Profile

- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
Latest entries
News2023.08.29Insecurity: Gombe Governor Orders Immediate Closure Of All Gala Houses In The State
News2023.08.16Full List of The New Ministers and Their Portfolio
News2023.08.02Organised Labour Staged Protest Across The Country
News2023.08.02We Are Not Averse to Subsidy Removal – TUC, As It Mobilises For Nationwide Protest
News
Insecurity: Gombe Governor Orders Immediate Closure Of All Gala Houses In The State

The Gombe state Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya CON has ordered the immediate closure of all ‘Gala Houses’ within the State.
This is contained in a statement issues and signed by the Director General press Affairs Government House Isma’ila Uba Misilli, through the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, stating that the governor gives the directives following the series of complaints from the general public on the incessant immoral, criminal activities and security breaches being perpetrated in such night clubs.
googlesyndication. com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js">According to the statement, the Governor has, consequently, ordered the the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Operation Hattara to mobilise their personnel to ensure strict compliance with the directive.
He therefore said for the avoidance of doubt, the affected Gala Houses are: Jami’a Gidan Wanka located at Mile 3 Yola Road, Gombe, White House Theatre (Babban Gida) located at New Mile 3 Yola Road, Gombe; Gidan Lokaci General Merchant located at Mile 3 Reservoir Road, Gombe and Farin Gida Entertainment II located at Wuro Karal, Kalshingi Road, Gombe.
Others are: Gidan Zamani Entertainment New Mile 3, Yola Road, Tumfure, Gombe; Albarka Entertainment Located at Wuro Karal, Bypass near Hara Form, Gombe; Gala Houses Located at Kuri Town, Lubo village and Kurba village all in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area.
Also affected are Tauraren Wash located at Trailer Park, Bauchi Road, Gombe and Gala House located at Bajoga Town in Funakaye Local Government Area.
Author Profile

- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
Latest entries
News2023.08.29Insecurity: Gombe Governor Orders Immediate Closure Of All Gala Houses In The State
News2023.08.16Full List of The New Ministers and Their Portfolio
News2023.08.02Organised Labour Staged Protest Across The Country
News2023.08.02We Are Not Averse to Subsidy Removal – TUC, As It Mobilises For Nationwide Protest
News
Full List of The New Ministers and Their Portfolio

Nigeria President, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday 16th August, 2023 approved the appointment of the new ministers designate and also allocated their portfolios.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale made this known while briefing State House Correspondents in Abuja,
He said that the swearing in is expected by next week after the retreat by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); adsbygoogle || []).push({});
The following is the list of the new ministers and their portfolio are:
- Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy- Bosun Tuani
- Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management- Ishak Salako
- Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy- Wale Edun
- Minister of Marine and Blue Economy- Bunmi Tunji
- Minister of Power- Adedayo Adelabu
- Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare- Tunji Alausa
- Minister of Solid Minerals Development- Dele Alake
- Minister of Tourism- Lola Ade-John
- Minister of Transportation- Adegboyega Oyetola
- Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment- Doris Anite
- Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji
- Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha
- Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy
- Minister of Works, David Umahi
- Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo
- Minister of Youth, Abubakar Momoh
- Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu
- Minister of State, Gas Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo
- Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri
- Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh
- Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike
- Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy- Hannatu Musawa
- Minister of Defence- Mohammed Badaru
- Minister of State for Defence- Bello Matawale
- Minister of State for Education- Yusuf Sununu
- Minister of Housing and Urban Development- Ahmed Dangiwa
- Minister State, Housing and Urban Developmet- Abdullahi Gwarzo
- Minister of Budget and Economic Planning- Atiku Bagudu
- Minister of Environment and Ecological Management- (***Kaduna***)
- Minister of State, FCT- Mairiga Mahmud
- Minister of State, Water Resource and Sanitation- Bello Goronyo
- Minister of Agric and Food Security- Abubakar Kyari
- Minister of Education – Tahir Mamman
- Minister of Interior – Sa’idu Alhaji
- Min. of Foreign Affairs – Yusuf Tuggar
- Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare- Ali Pate
- Minister of Police Affairs- Ibrahim Geidam
- Minister of State, Steel Development- Maigari Ahmadu
- Minister of Steel Development- Shuaibu Audu
- Minister of Information and National Orientation- Muhammed Idris
- Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice- Lateef Fagbemi
- Minister of Labour and Employment- Simon Lalong
- Minister of State, Police Affairs- Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim
- Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs- Zephaniah Jisalo
- Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation- Joseph Utsev
- Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security- Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi
The ministerial position for Kaduna State has yet to be announced as the Senate is yet to clear the nominee.(NAN)
Author Profile

- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
Latest entries
News2023.08.29Insecurity: Gombe Governor Orders Immediate Closure Of All Gala Houses In The State
News2023.08.16Full List of The New Ministers and Their Portfolio
News2023.08.02Organised Labour Staged Protest Across The Country
News2023.08.02We Are Not Averse to Subsidy Removal – TUC, As It Mobilises For Nationwide Protest
News
Organised Labour Staged Protest Across The Country

- the protest was in obedience to the directive by the NLC President
- Wants FG To Fix Refineries,
- Halt school fees increase
The organised labour staged protest accros the country, on Wednesday 2nd August, 2023. push({}); adsbygoogle || []).push({}); with compatriots across the country in the protest against fuel subsidy removal, with a call on The Federal Government to fix Nigeria’s refineries.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), affiliates in Plateau State called on government to halt the arbitrary increase of school fees across the country’s higher institutions, as well as the unexplained taxes and utilities tariffs.
Mr Eugene Manji, NLC Chairman in Plateau, while addressing the workers, said that subsidy removal had exposed Nigerians to untold hardship.
Manji said that some Nigerians could barely feed their families because of the harsh economic situation.
“I wonder how many parents will be able to pay their children’s school fees in September?
“The increase of fuel from N195 to N617 has affected every sector of the economy.
“We are not antagonising government, but we are suffocating under the current economic challenges.
“Before you remove subsidy, fix our refineries and stop importing refined petroleum products, and ensure that every transaction concerning petroleum is done in our local currency (Naira and Kobo),” he stated.
The chairman further appealed to the government to pay attention to the plight of the masses, and rescind it decisions.
Mr Kenneth Shamah, Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Plateau chapter, said that it was the first time organised labour made a chatter of demands and also suggested practical solutions.
Shamah said that the peaceful protest was not only about workers, but for everyone suffering in Nigeria.
According to him, many people can no longer feed their families as many businesses have crumbled.
Prof. Chris Piwuna, National Vice President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said that the union had always stood for students and Nigerian citizens.
Piwuna urged government, and indeed the ruling class, to have a rethink and listen to the cries of the masses.
“There are taxes everywhere, electricity tariff has gone up, and the cost of food has skyrocketed.
“In the span of just two months, the price of petrol has gone up to over 300 per cent.
“Our leaders should listen, fix our refineries and go back to the resolutions reached between the Federal Government and the NLC on subsidy removal.
“They should also pay university staff their eight months outstanding salaries,” the ASUU scribe said.
Meanwhile, the protest was in obedience to the directive by the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, that nationwide protests be staged against the fuel subsidy removal and other Federal Government policies.
Speaking with newsmen, the Caretaker Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Mr Victor Amusan, called the attention of the Federal Government to the plight of Nigerians, occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.
NAN reports that from the venue of the protest, the workers later marched through the streets of Osogbo, singing solidarity songs and stopping to enlighten market people and road users on the basis for their action.
Amusan said that the subsidy removal was done without provision for measures to cushion its effects on Nigerians.
He said that there should have been palliatives in place before the removal of the subsidy.
According to the labour leader, Nigerians are currently going through serious hardship because of high cost of living.
Amusan said that some tertiary institutions had also increased their tuition, expressing the fear that the situation might force many students to drop out of school.
He urged government to roll out palliatives or reverse any policy inimical to the wellbeing of Nigerians.
Vice-President of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUWEE), Mr Sadiq Adewale, said that the fuel subsidy removal was having adverse effect on everyone in the country.
Also, the immediate past President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Mr Biodun Ogunyemi, who joined the protesters in solidarity, said that they were expressing their rights to protest against what they felt government was not doing right.
Ogunyemi said that subsidy removal would only benefit the elite, adding that government should be about the people as well as their welfare and wellbeing.
He appealed to government to pay the backlog of salaries being owed ASUU members, as the cost of living had gone up due to the subsidy removal.
NAN reports that the protest was peaceful, as the police, NSCDC and other security agencies provided security for the protesters while they marched through Osogbo metropolis.
However, business activities were not disrupted by the protest, as banks, shops and government offices were open for business activities.
NAN reports that it was only the vehicular movements that were disrupted on the routes marched through by the protesting workers.
NAN.
Author Profile

- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
Latest entries
News2023.08.29Insecurity: Gombe Governor Orders Immediate Closure Of All Gala Houses In The State
News2023.08.16Full List of The New Ministers and Their Portfolio
News2023.08.02Organised Labour Staged Protest Across The Country
News2023.08.02We Are Not Averse to Subsidy Removal – TUC, As It Mobilises For Nationwide Protest