The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, held a meeting with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Osogbo on Friday to strengthen cooperation ahead of the state's governorship election. The visit was confirmed in a statement by NUJ Osun Secretary, Comrade Olalekan Akindoju. DSS Osun State Director, Victor Edet, welcomed the union's initiative and described the media as vital to public perception and national stability. He urged the NUJ to intensify efforts in curbing fake journalists, warning that fake news and sensational reporting threaten national security. Edet called for capacity-building programmes to promote accurate and responsible journalism. He stressed that media practitioners should demonstrate patriotism and loyalty in their reportage. NUJ Osun Chairman, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, said the engagement aimed to build a stronger working relationship with the DSS. He added that collaboration would improve security and help address challenges journalists face, particularly during the upcoming election.
Victor Edet's call for the NUJ to "sanitize" journalism by rooting out fake reporters is less about press integrity and more about controlling narratives ahead of a sensitive election. The DSS, an agency with a history of monitoring dissent, is positioning itself as a gatekeeper of journalistic legitimacy—a role that raises concerns about who gets to define a "real" journalist.
With the Osun governorship election approaching, the timing of this outreach suggests a strategic move to influence media conduct under the guise of national security. Edet's emphasis on patriotism and loyalty echoes past attempts to equate critical reporting with disloyalty. The push for training, while seemingly benign, could become a tool for aligning media output with state interests, especially if access or protection is made contingent on compliance.
For journalists in Osun, this collaboration may mean greater risk of surveillance or restriction under the cover of partnership. Reporters covering election-related issues could face pressure to self-censor, particularly if their work is deemed "sensational" or inconvenient.
This is not an isolated effort. Across Nigeria, security agencies have increasingly engaged media unions ahead of elections, often normalizing oversight that blurs the line between cooperation and control.
