NUJ decries worsening insecurity in three Niger LGAs

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Niger State Council has drawn the attention of the state government to the worsening insecurity in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi local government areas of the state.

The union stated this in a communique issued at the end of its congress held at the Conference Hall of IBB Pen House, the State’s Council Secretariat of the union in Minna, the state capital over the weekend, noting that the unrelenting violence, deaths and destruction of livelihoods on defenceless civilians who were suffering without much care and intervention needed an urgent attention of the government in collaboration with the security agencies without further delay.

At the congress presided over by the state council chairman, Comrade Abu, in conjunction with his exco- -members, called on authorities concerned to ensure the security of lives and properties in the affected local government areas of the state, emphasizing that this is the first duty of every responsible government, just as it condemned in stronger terms the perceived nonchalant attitude towards the plights of the affected people.

Furthermore, the congress also expressed concern over the appointment of unprofessionals by political office holders and other government appointees, thereby hindering effective information management by information officers in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The congress thereby called on commissioners and other appointees to work with information officers in their respective MDAs for effective information management.

The congress, among other issues, also deliberated on critical issues that bordered on the welfare of members, the union and the state and resolved them.

It noted that the chapels that were not up to date with payment of check-up dues to ensure that they are up to date, stressing that the congress was informed that members who were not up to date with the payment of check-up dues should liaise with the secretariat to know if they are to paycheck off dues or professional fees as well as practising fee.

It stated further that the congress nominated 5 members to the national secretariat for clearance and approval to serve as members of the credential committee for the state delegate conference to elect new members of the state working committee.

According to the communique, “The Congress appraised the Comrade Abu Nmodu- led State Working Committee (SWC) and commended the transparent, quality, all-inclusive and accountable record of service of the administration for the past three years and passed a vote of confidence on the SWC.

“The Congress commended the stewardship of the outgoing State Working Committee and unanimously affirmed the SWC for a second term, that all the members should be returned unopposed

“Similarly at the Congress, A 5-man Credentials Screening committee was set up to midwife the process of elections into NAWOJ executive within three weeks.

“The Congress expressed worries over the activities of fake journalists who disguise as members of the NUJ and deceive unsuspecting members of the public and resolved to take immediate action.”

The congress however observed with deep sadness the deplorable state of the state government-owned media organisations and reiterated its call for the government to invest heavily to make the media organizations commercially viable to prevent them from going into extinction before full-fledged commercialisation.

Consequently, the congress noted with dismay that the state government deliberately excluded members of the NUJ from those on special duties to cover this year’s pilgrimage to the holy land and wondered how the well-being of pilgrims from the state will be reported adequately without Journalists in the state’s delegation as it is the convention all over the federation

“The Congress observed with dismay that despite the cordial relationship between practising Journalists and Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago over time, predating his current office, the understanding is seemingly fading.

“The Congress therefore advised the government to live up to the promise of cordial working relationships with journalists in the state and beyond, by not taking deliberate steps to treat Journalists with disdain.

“The Congress unanimously congratulated Governor Mohammed Umar Bago on his one year in office saying that, the state has witnessed unprecedented development in all sectors of the state economy. The meeting cited the ongoing mass construction of roads in major cities as well as all the 25 local government areas under the New Niger Agenda,” it maintained.

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