The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kogi State Directorate has urged the collaboration and support of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kogi State Council, in order to achieve its mandate of disseminating and propagating of government policies and programmes in the state.

The newly appointed State Director of NOA, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Olurotimi Dare, stated this Wednesday when he led other members of the management team on a courtesy visit to the chairman of NUJ Kogi state council, Comrade Seidu Ademu,  at the press centre in Lokoja.

NOA director, who called on Kogi state council of the NUJ to assist in promoting transparency, accountability and stewardship in governance through positive reporting, said the agency alone could not achieve results without the media.

“We as agency we are to talk to the citizens through sensitisation, but it is the media that will take our messages to all nock and crony of the state.

“Therefore, we need to collaborate with NUJ to effectively bring about dialogue mechanism on accountability and good governance between citizens and government to facilitate a culture of openness,” he stated.

He stated that NOA community officers were in the twenty-one local government areas to access information and ensure the people embrace attitudinal change, values and good behaviours.

“The NOA community officers (COMOS) in all local government areas were trained to sufficiently mobilize citizens to act in ways that promote peace and harmony in Kogi and the nation at large,” he said.

He promised to continue to interface with the people through the media, town hall meetings, religious and traditional institutions in line with the agency’s mandates as set up by the federal government of Nigeria.

In his response, the state chairman of NUJ, Kogi state council, Comrade Sheidu Ademu, reminded the guests that the constitution of the federal government gives power to journalists to always hold leaders accountable to the public.

He noted that journalists are ready to partner with the agency to promote transparency, accountability and create a peaceful secured kogi and Nigeria.