Lagos — Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr. Sikiru Tae Lawal, has suggested ways to improve on the practice of journalism in the country with a view to repositioning the profession for its social responsibilities.

The deputy governor, who proffered no fewer than 14 ways at a lecture he delivered at Oshogbo, the Osun State capital on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the Radio Service of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation said that journalists must be provided with essential tools and enabling environment for them to discharge their duties without any fear or favour.

According to a statement by the Senior Executive Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Joseph Ogunsemi, Lawal in his lecture titled Broadcasting, Information Management in Nation Building said that both the government and media practitioners should collaborate with each other for any meaningful development to take place in any society.

He also suggested that much as he believes that media practitioners should strive to uphold the ethics of their profession, maintain integrity, reputation and dignity, laws to control and regulate job security for journalists in private and public media organisations should be promulgated.

The deputy governor added that media regulatory bodies should be strengthened by government to enable them enforce sanctions against erring journalists and media organisations and that the judiciary must be weary of granting injunctions that more often than not frustrate moderating bodies.

He also emphasised the need to train and retrain journalists in line with contemporary technology while the Freedom of Information Bill pending in the National Assembly should be passed without further delay, just as he recommended that Life Assurance Policies should be undertaken for all journalists in the country.

Lawal, however, frowned at the attitude of some journalists who would not see anything good in Nigeria, saying that their counterparts abroad always put the interest of their country above that of personal or groups.

"We must begin to see the bright side of our nation. The developed countries were once like us. Rome was not built in a day, it was built gradually by committed individuals and groups." He said.

Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, applauded the lecture, which he described as very educative and well researched and joined the guest lecturer in urging the National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information Bill.