Federal lawmaker representing Ado-Odo/Otta Federal Constituency, Hon. Tunji Akinosi, has called on journalists to uphold truth and professionalism in their reportage, stressing the need for balance, accuracy, and ethical standards in an era where social media misinformation is on the rise.
Akinosi made this disclosure on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Ado-Odo/Ota chapter of the Independent Online Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, at his Ota constituency office. The visit is part of the chapel’s ongoing familiarisation tour to stakeholders across Ogun West Senatorial District.
The Ota Chapel's Chairman, Comrade Kayode Taiwo, reiterated their commitment to responsible journalism and expressed their desire to collaborate with all stakeholders to promote developmental reportage.
Taiwo decried the growing menace of unregulated online platforms posing as news media, stating: “There’s a big difference between trained journalists and individuals who hide behind social media handles to mislead the public. These bloggers, many of whom failed in other professions, have sadly eroded public trust and misinformed the society.”
He assured the lawmaker that the union is here to stay,“We will be fair to all, but we will do our job professionally and without bias.”
In response, Hon. Akinosi welcomed the initiative and emphasised the importance of grassroots media in nation-building.
He said, “True development starts with local synergy. With your presence here, I believe constituents will get to hear the true stories of our work at the National Assembly.”
However, he strongly urged journalists to avoid sensationalism and to always verify facts before publication.
“There was a time I was falsely accused by a blogger over an incident with a street hawker. The story was entirely fabricated for traffic. That’s not journalism—it’s cyberbullying,” he recounted.
“I’m not against criticism. But let it be factual. Journalists must ask questions, verify stories from all sides before publishing. A good reputation, built over decades, shouldn’t be destroyed by one careless post,” he said
He also warned that new laws on cyberbullying are now in effect, with stiff penalties for defamation and character assassination.
“There are legal consequences for digital defamation. People need to understand that freedom of expression comes with responsibility,” the federal lawmaker stated.
On constituency development, Hon. Akinosi provided updates on ongoing efforts to address critical infrastructure challenges, particularly road repairs and education.
“Ado-Odo/Otta is one of the largest federal constituencies in the country. About 80% of its roads fall under federal jurisdiction, making it difficult for state or local authorities to handle alone.”
While acknowledging the long-standing issues around federal roads such as the Ota-Idiroko expressway, he explained why efforts have shifted to other urgent needs within the limits of federal allocations.
He revealed that the zonal intervention fund for Ado-Odo/Otta has been increased to ₦1 billion, breakdown as follows: ₦700 million assigned for rehabilitation and upgrade of public schools, ₦200 million for solar-powered street lighting across dark spots and ₦100 million to support agriculture and boost local food production.
He said, “We had to prioritise within the available resources. While we continue to lobby for more funding for road infrastructure, we are also addressing key sectors like education, safety, and food security.”
Hon. Akinosi assured constituents that advocacy efforts for full rehabilitation of major federal roads sty ongoing, with positive responses already being received from relevant ministries and agencies.
“We’re pushing hard for more interventions. With sustained effort, the roads will eventually receive more attention they deserve from both the federal and state governments,” the federal lawmaker said.
The visit concluded with mutual assurances of collaboration between the lawmaker and the NUJ Independent Online Chapel to foster transparency, accountability, and community development through credible journalism.
Post a Comment