Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state may have shut on journalists from benefitting from the state government relief package to cushion the effects of coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown because he has reportedly declared that journalists are not vulnerable.
The governor had said the distribution of relief items mainly foodstuffs are meant for vulnerable households in the state.
Obaseki was reportedly quoted to have said: “Journalists ar not included in this palliatives. It’s for the very poor and vulnerable households.
“I can’t give relief items to people (journalists) who receive salaries at the end of the month.
“In fact occupants of fenced houses will not be considered for the next round of palliatives.”
Journalists in the state have been at the fore-front of reporting government guildlines on the disease and sensitising residence on the consequences of disobeying the directives.
The first round of the state government palliatives were distributed from its various food banks in April, with the next round of reliefed items being expected soon.
The governor recently announced the sum of inN300,000 hazard allowance and life insurance for health workers on COVID-19 duty. Meanwhile, Obaseki has charged journalists to uphold the ethics of the journalism profession to deepen good governance and fast-track the nation’s advancement.
The governor who gave the charge on the occasion of the United Nation’s World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on May 3, each year, noted that “a free, uninhibited and independent press is a major pillar for the sustenance of democracy, good governance and economic advancement.”
He commended the display of courage by journalists who daily challenge oppressive governments, obnoxious policies and impunity by political actors, and explained “that the world’s history is replete with inspiring stories on the doggedness of journalists, who published objective reports in defense of truth, that changed the course of history for the better, even at great personal cost.”