The Naija Times Journalism Foundation (NTJF), the non-profit arm of Naija Timesan online newspaper, has called for strong oversight of the media to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of the N5 billion per state and FCT relief fund recently announced by the Federal Government.
The frontline journalism foundation, which promotes a vibrant media ecosystem capable of holding the government to account in a democracy, noted that previous attempts by the government to directly touch the lives of poor and vulnerable Nigerians have been undermined as a result. of weak media oversight.
The president of the Foundation, Ehi Braimah, gave the charge in Lagos, when evaluating the possible impact of the palliative in the lives of ordinary citizens.
Mr. Braimah, who is also editor/editor-in-chief of the Naija Times, noted that previous facilities such as the Paris Club Rebate and other initiatives that the government tried to implement through state governors have failed miserably.
He stressed that those interventions, which failed to achieve the desired impact on the lives and fortunes of ordinary Nigerians, should provide enough lessons for the federal government and the citizens of all states.
He said: “If this palliative being launched is to have any impact, serious planning and tracking of how the funds will be spent is needed. On the monitoring side, the media and journalists should show more interest in reporting whether the benefits of these funds are reaching ordinary people or not. Without such media oversight, the outlays we are talking about will simply go the way of similar interventions in the past.”
The Naija Times helmsman noted that given the level of poverty and destitution currently affecting Nigerians, governors and other political leaders cannot afford to again botch current efforts to provide a reprieve to the people.
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“As things stand, the level of famine on earth has become deeply concerning, while the hardship has become unbearable. To prevent hunger-induced protests, deprivation across the country must be addressed with urgency and determination,” Mr. Braimah advised.
The media are essential to ensure that the pursuit of transparent and accountable governance is carried out at all three levels of government. Newly announced palliatives must be closely monitored by the media and reported regularly in the public interest.
Signed:
By the Board of the Naija Times Journalism Foundation
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