The Kogi State government has announced its willingness to boost the welfare of media practitioners, as it approved the enrolment of 45 journalists from Correspondents’ Chapel and the federation into the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme (KGSHIS).

Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information, Kogi State, disclosed this while delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Governor Ahmed Ododo at the 2026 Press Week organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Lokoja. He noted that while journalists on the state government’s payroll are already beneficiaries of the health insurance scheme, the governor extended the coverage to the 45 remaining active journalists operating within the state to ensure their health and well-being are adequately safeguarded.

The commissioner emphasised that a healthy workforce remains vital to sustaining a vibrant press. He stressed that while the pen remains mightier than the sword in shaping an egalitarian society, journalists must prioritise their health to effectively carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

Fanwo pointed out that the administration’s ongoing interventions in the state’s media sector include the approval for the overhaul of Radio Kogi House to boost broadcasting capacity and coverage across the state.

He assured that state-owned media institutions, including The Graphic Newspaper, are being repositioned to deliver reliable news and mobilise civic participation in governance.

The commissioner urged journalists to uphold professional ethics, practice developmental journalism, and refrain from sensational reporting. He cited instances where fake news caused unnecessary panic and harmed investment prospects, cautioning that reporting unverified security scares undermines the state’s economic growth and job creation efforts.

He highlighted the achievements of the Ododo-led administration, saying that Kogi State currently delivers more than the UNESCO benchmark in education, offering free basic and secondary education from Primary 1 to Senior Secondary 3 (SS3), adding that major infrastructural strides include solar-powered primary health centres, ongoing township road projects, and landmark tertiary infrastructure such as the engineering college at CUSTECH, Osara, and modernised medical student hostels.

Speaking on macro-economic stability, Fanwo credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification reforms for improving federal allocations to states, pointing out that the enhanced revenues have enabled Kogi State to meet salary obligations seamlessly while aggressively funding capital projects, including the Lokoja International Market and the ongoing development of the Kogi International Airport, slated for commissioning by next year.

Fanwo commended the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) for exceeding its annual revenue targets by expanding the tax net rather than burdening citizens with increased taxes, noting that sustained revenue generation remains critical to funding state infrastructure and public utilities.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the government to providing a secure and enabling environment for media personnel to practice without intimidation, calling on the NUJ to maintain its partnership with the administration in projecting the true potential, natural resources, and cultural heritage of the state.

Alhassan Yahya Abdul, president, NUJ, called on journalists to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality and accountability in their reportage, particularly as the country prepares for another election cycle.

“As journalists, we are custodians of public trust and vital partners in democratic development. Our responsibility is to inform the electorate accurately, hold public officials accountable and promote transparency, peace and responsible political participation.

“I urge our colleagues to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality and accountability in their reporting. We must resist the temptation to publish unverified information, sensational claims, hate speech and politically motivated narratives capable of misleading the public or threatening national peace. Our duty is to report elections, not inflame them; to inform the electorate, not manipulate it; and to hold power accountable without fear or favour”.

In his remarks, Ademu Seidu, chairman, NUJ, Kogi State Council, described this year’s Press Week as a period of stocktaking, reflection, thanksgiving, service and celebration.

He appreciated Governor Ododo for his consistent support for the union and sustained collaboration with journalists in the state.

The chairman also expressed gratitude to Fanwo for serving as a bridge between the government and the media, assuring that the union would continue to promote objective, constructive and responsible journalism in the discharge of its duties.