NUJ Wants FG To Declare State Of Emergency On Roads

The National Executive Council (NEC), of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has urged the Federal Government to declare a State of Emergency on federal roads across the nation.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Benin City, the NEC of NUJ said virtually all the federal roads in the country had collapsed and something urgently needed to be done to restore them.
The communiqué, which was signed by the National Secretary, Shaibu Usman Leman, also called for security to be beefed up around INEC facilities and media houses ahead of 2023 general elections.
It tasked governments at all levels to appoint only professional journalists to hold media or communication related positions in government.
NEC equally canvassed support for traditional institutions and urged the National Assembly to consider creating constitutional roles for traditional rulers, especially in the area of tackling security issues.
It expressed appreciation to Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for hosting the NEC meeting and Alhaji Muhammad Nami, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service – FIRS for facilitating the NUJ/FIRS Tax Conference also in Benin.
Other resolutions of the meeting were: “NEC dissolves the Caretaker Committee of Ogun State Council and mandates Chairmen and Secretaries of Chapels in line with the NUJ constitution to take over the running of the council. NEC also directs the VP Zone B to immediately inaugurate the new Caretaker leadership.
“NEC accordingly inaugurates the Chairman, Oyo State Council, Ademola Babalola, Adeleye Ajayi, the Chairman of Lagos Council and Kayode Babatuyi, Secretary of Ekiti State Council as members of the Credentials Committee for the conduct of the Ogun Council election.
“NEC constitutes a three-member committee led by the VP Zone F, Opaka Dokubo, Assistant Secretary Enugu State Council, Ifoma Amuta and the Chairman Ebonyi State Council, Tony Nwizi to look into the NAWOJ problem in Abia State with a view to settling it.
“NEC resolves that all elected members of the Union that get political appointments must resign from their Union positions. NEC tasks governments at all levels to appoint only professional journalists to man media or communication related positions.NEC canvasses support for traditional institutions and urges the National Assembly to consider creating constitutional roles for traditional rulers especially in the fight against insecurity,” he added.
Expressing their sadness on how flood ravaged some states with flood, NEC called on the Federal Government to take proactive measures to mitigate the effects of flooding which have ravaged many parts of the country.
The body frowned on a situation where state governments make it very difficult for opposition political parties to have seamless campaigns in their states. It demanded that all political parties be given equal opportunities and stressed the need for security agencies to check incessant attacks at political rallies.
“NEC urges government to put in place ecological mechanisms to prevent future flooding and intensify distribution of relief materials.
“NEC charges governments at all levels and security agencies to ensure the safety of journalists and media workers before and during the 2023 general elections.
“NEC harps on the key role of taxation in making growth sustainable and equitable and tasks the media to rise up to the challenge of informing and educating Nigerians on the importance of paying taxes.
“NEC directs the Secretary of Kebbi State Council and by extension the State council to forthwith withdraw the suspension of Blessing Michael of the Council and inform all the relevant authorities accordingly. NEC describes the action of the Secretary as an aberration and flagrant breach of NUJ constitution.”
Warning council and chapel on giving awards, NEC reiterated the position of the Union’s constitution that no council or chapel should give awards to individuals or organisations without the consent and approval of the National Secretariat.
The meeting further declared an end to the situation where state councils enter into agreements over union property without approval of the national secretariat.
“NEC calls on all state councils to submit a comprehensive inventory of property in their possession including a list of all bona-fide financial members of their councils within seven days. NEC directs the National Secretariat to impose appropriate sanctions on defaulting councils.
“NEC commends the collaboration between the National Secretariat, INEC and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) towards organising capacity building workshops on 2023 elections and conflict sensitive reporting across the country for journalists with the aim of preparing them better for the onerous task.”