The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday officially declared a nationwide strike over the scarcity of cash in the country.

The national president of the union, Joe Ajaero, gave the directive during a media briefing in Abuja.

…Urges Lagos, residents, to re-elect Governor based on performance, laudable achievements

Olushola Okunlade Writes

Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has appealed to all Lagos State residents, especially the electorate to re-elect Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the forthcoming gubernatorial poll, saying the Governor has done so well and deserved to be re-elected.  

Speaking during the Journalist Hangout Programme on Television Continental (TVC) on Sunday, Osoba, a renowned journalist and former Editor and Managing Director of Daily Times Newspaper, said Governor Sanwo-Olu has done so much in Lagos State and based on his performance he deserved to be voted for en-masse on Saturday.

Osoba, who expressed his displeasure over the voting pattern against APC in Lagos State, especially at Ikoyi, Eti-Osa Local Government Area during the last presidential elections, urged Lagos residents to redeem themselves by voting for a performing government, saying “Lagos has given so much to all of us, let us pay back by showing gratitude to a Governor (Sanwo-Olu) who I believe has done his best.”   

The former Ogun State governor also appealed to Lagos residents, especially youths, Ndigbo in the State, and religious leaders not to allow ethnicity and religion to be a dividing factor in the forthcoming governorship election in Lagos State. 

He said: “In Lagos, it hurts me and it gives me sleepless nights when educated people and others voted against APC in Ikoyi for example. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has done so well in Ikoyi. Ikoyi was totally run down; it was almost becoming a slum. And when Sanwo-Olu came in, he did so much renewal in Ikoyi. He has done a lot to fix Glover Road and McPherson Avenue with heavy drainage to address the flooding. He has also worked on Lateef Jakande, McDonald all the way down to Cooper Road, Alexander, and Queen Drive. 

“He (Governor Sanwo-Olu) has done so much renewal and yet some of us elites whose property value had gone almost 50 percent voted blindly. I thought we would vote according to performance. Anywhere in the world, you assess a government and vote based on performance. I hope they will redeem their image. How can the Ikoyi voting pattern be against a government that performed?

“They voted against APC. What is their reason? Tunji Bello used to tell me about the efforts they always make to pump water every flooding period to save us from heavy flooding. So, it devises all reasonable logic the way people; educated people voted in Ikoyi for example, where I lived.”

Osoba, who governed Ogun State during the aborted Third Republic and was also elected as the first Ogun State governor in the present Fourth Republic, appealed to all Lagos residents, especially the youths to vote for Governor Sanwo-Olu and APC candidates in the March 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“Why should anybody be looking for a change in Lagos? I have spoken about the assessment and performance of Sanwo-Olu in Ikoyi where I live. This is not hearsay. The monorail that Jakande started was canceled over 40 years ago, he has restored it with the Blue line rail. I can go on and on giving you examples of his performance.

“I went to campaign in Agbado on Friday and when coming back, I google my way to my house, and all throughout Agege and neighbouring areas between Ogun State and Lagos were all dualised. How do you say a man like that should not continue? 

“I will urge our people, especially the youths not to make the same mistake that they made in Eti-Osa where they voted blindly out of frustration, which I appreciate. And the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, told them he will address their frustration.

“I appeal to my Igbo brothers and sisters, don’t let us make this an ethnic issue. Anywhere in the world where ethnicity has become an issue, it becomes destructive.  I will plead that the youth, our religious people, and our Igbo brothers and sisters in Lagos should think of the past. Nnamdi Azikwe, the father figure of Igbo land, started all his political life in Lagos. The first Igbo lawyer, Sir Louis Mbanefo went to Methodist Boys High School and King’s College; he had his education in Lagos.

“We have been working together. Let us sustain the relationship. Lagos is the most liberal state in this country. Lagos has given so much to all of us, let us pay back by showing gratitude to a Governor who I believe has done his best,” Osoba appealed.

By: Philip Odiakose

Media monitoring and intelligence have become increasingly important in the digital age.

With the vast amount of information available online, media monitoring provides businesses, organizations, and individuals with valuable insights into clients’ media mentions, public opinion, industry trends, competitive media share, media sentiment, and emerging issues.

However, as the use of media monitoring and intelligence continues to grow, so do the ethical concerns surrounding their use.

In this article, I will explore the ethics and practice of media monitoring and intelligence, including the potential risks and benefits, as well as the best practices for using them responsibly.

Benefits of Media Monitoring and Intelligence

Media monitoring and intelligence can provide a range of benefits, including:

1. Near Real-time insights: Media monitoring allows businesses and organizations to track their brand reputation and public perception in near real-time. By monitoring news articles, social media posts, and other online content, they can quickly identify any negative comments or issues and take action to address them before they escalate.
2. Competitive intelligence: Media monitoring can also provide valuable insights into competitor activity, helping businesses and organizations stay ahead of industry trends and identify potential threats or opportunities.
3. Industry trends: By monitoring industry-specific news and social media, businesses and organizations can stay up-to-date on emerging trends, allowing them to adapt their strategies and remain competitive.
4. Crisis management: In a crisis, media monitoring can help businesses and organizations track public sentiment and respond quickly and effectively.

Risks and Ethical Concerns

While media monitoring and intelligence can provide valuable insights, they also raise a number of ethical concerns, including:

1. Privacy: Media monitoring often collects personal information, such as social media posts, location data, and online activity. This raises questions about consent and privacy, particularly in cases where the information is being collected without the knowledge or consent of the individual.
2. Accuracy: Media monitoring relies on algorithms and machine learning to analyze large volumes of data. While these can provide valuable insights, there is always a risk of errors or biases in the data analysis.
3. Misuse: Media monitoring can be used for malicious purposes, such as tracking the activities of individuals or groups without their knowledge or consent.
4. Unintended Consequences: Media monitoring and intelligence can have unintended consequences. For example, monitoring the online activity of employees can create a culture of distrust, negatively impacting morale and productivity.

Best Practices for Ethical Media Monitoring and Intelligence

To mitigate these risks, it is important to follow best practices for ethical media monitoring and intelligence:

1. Transparency: Media Monitoring Consultants should be transparent about the use of media monitoring tools and the data collected. This includes providing clear information about what data is being collected, how it is being used, and who has access to it.
2. Consent: Media Monitoring consultants should sign an SLA with clients before collecting and using their data. This includes obtaining explicit consent for sensitive data, such as location data or social media posts..
3. Accuracy: Media Monitoring Consultants should ensure that media monitoring tools are supported by humans to ensure accurate and reliable data. This includes regular human testing and reviewing the algorithms used.
4. Purpose: Media Monitoring Consultants should ensure that media monitoring tools are used for legitimate purposes, such as media performance audit, media intelligence, media research, crisis management, or competitive analysis.
5. Security: Media Monitoring Consultants should take measures to ensure the security of the data collected, including using encryption and other security measures to protect sensitive information.

In conclusion, Media monitoring and intelligence provide valuable insights into clients’ media mentions, public opinion, industry trends, competitive media share, media sentiment, and emerging issues. However, the use of media data raises ethical concerns around privacy, accuracy, and unintended consequences.

To ensure the responsible and ethical use of clients’ media data, media monitoring, and intelligence consultants should follow best practices around transparency, consent, accuracy, purpose, and security. By doing so, they can harness the power of media monitoring and intelligence while minimizing the risks and protecting clients’ rights in their custody.

Philip Odiakose is the Chief Insights Consultant at P+ Measurement Services, a Media Intelligence Consultancy in Lagos state, Nigeria.