Paschal Emeka, Abuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged Journalists to sustain democracy through independence and a patriotic disposition.

The Speaker stated this at a capacity building workshop for members of the House of Reps Press Corps in Abuja at the weekend.

He urged the media practitioners to advance democracy and nation-building through their reportage.

Earlier in his address, the Speaker noted that quality journalism requires resources to train, equip staff and invest in technology in order to improve content quality and broadcast capabilities.

He used the opportunity to call on journalists to continually promote accuracy in information dissemination as well as shun misinformation and propaganda in the practice of journalism.

In his address, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public affairs, Hon Benjamin Kalu, explained that in the practice of policymaking, the legislature was guided by press reportage.

Hon Kalu said as the nation enter the election season, the press should centre its reportage around issues and not persons and avoid character assassination.

At the event, the Clerk of the House, Dr. Yahayya Danzariya, urged them to be more organized, accurately report the activities and actions of the National Assembly, and also to protect the integrity of the reporting media houses.

He urged the leadership of the Press Corps to ensure that all those operating under its banner are accredited and registered media professionals under the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

In her address, the Chairperson of the House Press Corps, Grace Ike, gave the assurance that the Corps under her leadership would do its best to weed out fake journalists in the system to ensure quality reportage devoid of sentiments.