The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has urged journalists across the country to make political manifestos a central focus of their election coverage and ensure that politicians are held accountable to their campaign promises.
Issa-Onilu made the call while speaking at the 9th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos, according to a statement shared on the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
He criticised the growing trend of sensationalism in the media, noting that “manifestos shape governance and democratic outcomes” and should not be overshadowed by political drama or personality coverage.
The NOA boss also revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign manifesto took several months to develop, describing it as a reform-driven document anchored on technology and innovation.
Delivering the keynote address, former Katsina State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, stressed the importance of sincerity and strategic planning in bridging campaign promises with the realities of governance.
Elder statesman Chief Bode George, who also spoke at the event, called on political leaders to utilise national resources for the collective good of citizens, while Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika commended journalists for advancing accountability and urged them to leverage social media to demand transparency.
In her remarks, outgoing GOCOP President, Maureen Chigbo, appreciated members for their steadfast support and professionalism, noting that the Guild has continued to grow in credibility and influence. She charged the new executive members to sustain GOCOP’s standards and uphold ethical journalism.
