Wike- According To The Minister Of Federal Capital Territory, We Are Not Receiving Negative Media Attention Because Of Our Advertisement Policy

Wike- According To The Minister Of Federal Capital Territory, We Are Not Receiving Negative Media Attention Because Of Our Advertisement Policy

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the drastic reduction in negative media reportage about the FCT administration was because the media houses have been handsomely rewarded with advert windfall.

He made the claim in a trending video that was recorded during his meeting with officers of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), who were summoned to appeal to the union leaders against embarking on strike over unpaid salary arrears and non-implementation of released promotion letters.

The minister, whose remarks appeared to be cheeky, was referencing the voluminous advertisements placed in some national newspapers by the FCTA, listing the names of those whose land titles were revoked for defaulting in the payment of ground rent to the administration from their property located in some upscale parts of the nation's capital. "I thank you all. I want to thank the press for your reporting. I have not found any negative reports these days, probably because most media houses publish adverts, money is coming in, and most are happy. Those of you who have not got should go into fasting so that more things should come out so that we can patronize all the media houses. I want to thank you for supporting this administration," Wike said.

Meanwhile, the minister has constituted a nine-man independent and investigative panel to unravel the death of 33-year-old Ms Greatness Tolulope Olorunfemi.

A statement by Badiru Salisu Yakassi, on behalf of the Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Service & Environment Secretariat, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, said the panel consisted of the Nigerian Medical Association, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria as well as Medical Women Association of Nigeria.

Others on the panel were the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, the Association of Resident Doctors, the Association of Pathologists of Nigeria, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the General Counsel, FCTA and the Health Services Department (as the Secretariat).

Wike expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased while also expressing his unwavering commitment to assuring that the investigation would be conducted with the utmost transparency, integrity and professionalism. The statement disclosed that the investigative panel would be inaugurated on Thursday, 5th of October 2023, at the health and environment secretariat, Area 11, Abuja.

"The Secretariat appreciates the patience and understanding of the people and promises that the panel's findings will be made available to the public as soon as it's concluded," the statement said.

Miss Olorunfemi was said to have died after she was stabbed and pushed out of a car by criminals operating 'one-chance'.

It was also alleged that medical personnel at Maitama General Hospital declined to attend to her for lack of a police report, causing her to bleed to death. The police have already commenced an investigation into her death.

In a related development, Wike has canvassed for the cooperation of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in his plan to set up a directorate for women's affairs in the FCT.

Speaking during a visit to Mrs Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, in the company of FCT Minister of State Mariya Mahmood, he said the collaboration was necessary "because there is no directorate for women affairs in the FCT. "We want to collaborate with her on how to care for women and work with her to achieve the Renewed Hope agenda. The FCT wants to play its own role in that agenda."

While seeking other areas of collaboration, Wike expressed the readiness of his administration to partner with the office of the First Lady in the drive to actualize the government's Renewed Hope Agenda.

In her speech, Tinubu hailed the minister for placing a premium on women's inclusion, saying the efforts by the FCT administration to also develop agriculture, one of the priority areas for the Renewed Hope Initiative, was a cheering development with many prospects to be exploited.

She said, "Just this morning, I saw a newsflash that the FCT Minister is collaborating with Israel on agriculture. I said I would love to discuss agriculture with the Honorable minister. "Although women and children are what we do, it is not just women. We went as far as Belarus to study what they were doing. They have so much to offer in different areas and are willing to assist, going as far as providing us scholarships at the Renewed Hope Initiative.

"What you have done today has brought a lot of ease to our work because once you have the directorate, they will know how to reach them. That is why I think that God has hour actions. You have really lightened my burden."

She stressed that a broad-based implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda "must not only include strategic development of the agricultural sector but recognize the role of women and create an atmosphere that empowers them."