Niger NUJ commends state Gov’t, raises concern over project timing, Distribution Company, others
Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State chapter, has commended the effort of the state government in the ongoing infrastructural development.
According to a communique drafted by Onifade Abayomi; Chairman, Matthew Jwantu; Member and Jibrin Usman Kodo–Secretary, marking the resolution of a congress presided over by the council Chairman Comrade Abu Nmodu, the union urged government to ensure timely completion of projects.
The statement partly read, “The congress commended the state government on the quality of job being done in the on going construction of Minna-Bida road, calling on the contractor to expedite action on the work . It also used the medium to appeal to the state government to quickly look into deplorable state of other roads in the state in order to complement the administration’s efforts in infrastructural development.”
Commenting on the dismissal of civil servants, the union urged government to ensure the ‘innocent’ are exonerated.
“On alleged dismissal of over 700 civil servants in the state, the congress appealed to the government to ensure that innocent workers did not suffer in the various verification exercise in the state. It also advised that past actions on verification exercise be revisited for straight administrative record purpose,” statement said.
While lamenting the epileptic power supply NUJ, stressed the need for Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to be warned for it irregular services.
The group also bemoaned the challenge caused by unprofessionals,adding that they would be dealt with.
“The congress also called on Niger State government to prevail on Abuja Electricity Distribution Company AEDC not to burden Communities and the government with provisions of transformers even as the profit goes to the company . The Congress noted that epileptic power supply continued unabated in a state that generate power. It noted with dismay a situation where communities even in the state capital stay for months without electricity owing to collapsed Transformers that should have been provided by AEDC, the Congress note that it is morally wrong for AEDC to burden Communities to provide transformers only for the company to collect Money on bills from where it refused to truly invest, it observed that Provision of Transformers is key to distribution that AEDC should agreed to do as a business.
“It also resolved that Government should as a matter of urgency, take practical steps to ensure food security in the state, this is to mitigate imminent famine due to high cost of food, caused by banditry that has made it difficult for farmers to engage in serious farming in two successive rainy seasons in the state.
“The union further called on government and security agencies to shift intelligence network to a new method of criminals posing as scavengers roaming the streets only to be the real criminal or informants to criminals who steal, rob and abduct people for ransom.
“The congress resolved that it will not condoned any ethical misconduct and quackery approach to journalism profession in the state. Congress therefore resolved that any member, who outrightly compromise ethical codes of the profession will be dealt with decisively,” the statement added.
