Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The Department of State Services (DSS), has charged media practitioners, especially journalisits, to at all times put the interest of the nation first in the cause of performing their constitutional duties..
Edo State Director of DSS, Mr. Ibrahim Aliu, gave the charge on Monday in Benin, during a courtesy visit by members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalisits (NUJ), Edo State Council, in his office.
He disclosed that the Service is always open to partnership with journalists, even as he eulogised journalists for their roles in nation building through dissemination of information to members of the public, as well as reporting same to the government.
Aliu who expressed concern over the spread of fake news in the social media, noted that such news items are not healthy for national cohesion and integration.
He therefore admonished journalisits to diligently cross-check all facts about their stories before publshing them.
The DSS boss called on journalisits to always show understanding with his operatives whenever they are late to events.
According to him, “The DSS have a standard way of operation, especially the courage of VIPs at events, because people are not allowed to come in after VIPs are seated.
“We therefore urge journalists to be time-conscious to events.”
Earlier in her speech, the Chairperson of the Correspondents Chapel, Mrs. Nefishetu Yakubu, who led other members on the visit, said they were there to introduce the newly elected Exco officials to the operatives of the DSS.
Yakubu expressed the readiness of members of the Chapel to partner with the Service in their duty to check crime and criminality in the State.