The Delta State Government has pledged to meaningfully engage journalists for the actualisation of the five-point agenda of the government tagged SMART.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Rt Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, made the promise while playing host to members of the Executives of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its Chairman, Comrade Norbert Chiazor.

The SSG explained that the place of journalists was very paramount in governance, stressing that no government can succeed in its programmes if stakeholders like journalists were not engaged constructively.

Hon. Agas gave an assurance that the state government would attend to some of the challenges facing the State Council of the NUJ, adding however that the prevailing economic crunch would slow down its pace of assistance.

He nevertheless advised journalists to be more ethical and professional by ensuring their stories were properly authenticated, balanced and objective, saying that such would give credibility to their respective medium and personality.

Earlier, the Council Chairman, Comrade Norbert Chiazor congratulated the SSG on his appointed and thanked the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for the wise choice in appointing Hon Agas SSG.

He appealed for assistance in the completion of the Council Secretariat which the immediate past administration built to foundation level, as well as capacity building for journalists in the state.

Comrade Chiazor also asked the SSG to use his good offices to ensure that due recognition was given to hierarchy when dealing with journalists in the state, stating that 15 chapels currently exist as units under the council.