BENIN CITY – Edo State Head of Service (HOS) has said that the state government would continue to meet its obligations to public servants, especially in the areas of prompt payment of salaries, regular promotion and capacity building.
Disclosing this in Benin City during the annual Samuel Ogbemudia Forum organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Observer chapel, he said that the state government would leave the state public service better than it met it.
The forum, 13th in the series which was rebranded from its original name, The OBSERVER Forum” had as its theme, “Advancing Media Freedom: The Promise of Technology.
“It provided opportunity to build bridges and partnership among stakeholders in the media industry.
It was rebranded Samuel Ogbemudia forum as a way of acknowledging Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia’s contributions to humanity as well celebrate him while alive having established the newspaper house 46 years ago while military Governor of Midwest State.
The HOS appreciated trade unions and professional bodies in the state, including NUJ for their support and co-operation with the state government.
Describing the theme of the form as apt, he said the time was ripe for media practitioners to play their constitutional role as watchdog of the society.
“This electioneering period is certainly a critical time in the history of  our democratic governance; a season which calls for vigilance, unbiased reportage and patriotism on the part of stakeholders in the industry”, he said.
He reminded them that the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria requires that the media should as a matter of responsibility set the agenda for players in politics and governance, adding that, “we need to join hands in ensuring, not only peaceful electioneering campaigns, but free, fair and credible elections”.