Nigerian online publishers have hailed the appointments of Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu as the Special Adviser on Media and Senior Special Assistant on Media respectively to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The publishers, under the aegis of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), also applauded the appointment of Habib Aruna as the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

GOCOP, in a statement issued on Monday by its President, Malachy Agbo, said all the appointments were merited.

Agbo described Adesina, Shehu and Aruna as thoroughbred journalists and administrators who will bring their wide range of experience to bear on the assignments at hand.

He said the choice of the appointees was a reflection of the deep thought that went into the selection process.

GOCOP, however, challenged the appointees not to lose focus when they assume office.

Agbo said they should not fall into the temptation of abandoning the ethics of the profession once in office.

“With you in office, we look forward to a freer and robust press, a media that is not in shackles and a good working relationship with all stakeholders,” he said.

Agbo equally charged the media to, in the course of carrying out their enormous task of putting both the elected and appointed leaders under close scrutiny, operate within the ethics of the journalism profession.