NUJ Calls On Buhari To Inaugurate NDDC Board

Leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Zone F, comprising of all the states in the Niger Delta region, at the weekend, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate a lawfully and duly constituted Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in order not to continue to undermine the Act establishing the Commission.
The NUJ made the statement in a communique issued at the end of its meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and frowned at the continued delay by the Federal Government, to finish the construction of the East-West Road.
The communique signed by the Zone F Vice President, Comrade Opaka Dokubo and Zone F secretary, Comrade John Angese read in parts:
“The Zone resolved to henceforth, hold the Niger Delta Ministry accountable through the monitoring, inspection and evaluation of various projects embarked upon by the ministry.
“It also called on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to sit up to its lawful functions, and particularly, ensure that capacities of the Niger Delta people are enhanced for optimal development of the region.
“Furthermore, the meeting called on the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately inaugurate a lawfully and duly constituted Board of the NDDC in order not to continue to undermine the Act creating the Commission.
“The union equally frowned at the continued delay by the Federal Government to finish the construction of the East-West Road. It therefore, called on the Government to declare a state of emergency on the road, particularly, the Eleme section, to ease the suffering of the people using the road.
“The union recognized and commended the governors in the South-South geopolitical zone that have continued to support the various state councils of the NUJ to meet up with their statutory mandates.
“It singled out the governors of Akwa-Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa and Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; while appealling to the governors of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade and Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to be more magnanimous, gracious and kindly disposed to issues affecting the NUJ in particular, and media practitioners at large, in their states.
“The NUJ urge politicians in the South-South not to heat up the polity as we draw close to campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections. The people are traumatized enough as a result of economic hardship and general insecurity bedeviling the country and may not be able to endure a political crisis.
“As a follow-up, it implored the electorates to avoid undermining the Electoral Laws and Guidelines through vote selling and therefore, warns them to be mindful of those who would come to manipulate them to buy their votes, and consequently, their welfare.
“As prelude to the Summit, the Zonal leaders agreed to open up engagements with critical stakeholders and partners on the need to build a formidable Zone devoid of self-devaluation and internal crisis.”