By Lahila Ando
Tension has continued to rise in the media space in Taraba State, as the state Commissioner for Information, Barrister Zainab Jalingo, has engaged journalists in alleged full blown war
Sources indicate that due to the escalating tension between journalists in the state and Jalingo, the Commissioner for Information, has allegedly vowed to ensure that most journalists leave the state during her tenure.
It was gathered that apart from stopping journalists from accessing support from the governor of the state as regards their operations, the commissioner has distanced herself from both journalists and their leaders at all levels in the state
Our reporter gathered that the commissioner has allegedly blocked lines of more than 90 per cent of journalists in the state, making it difficult for them to verify information concerning the policies and operations of the governor of the state, Dr Agbu Kefas
A reporter in the state who spoke with our correspondent on ground of anonymity, narrated that the Commissioner has continued to take advantage of little stipends allocated for journalists’ transport during assignments to reimburse her treasury in the name of “I don’t not know your medium.”
He said there is no social interaction between the commissioner and journalists in the state not to talk of allowing them to access any support from the governor as it is done in other states
“Let me give you example, for the first time in the history of Taraba State, journalists could not access government’s support to travel to Owerri, Imo State for their usual Triennial Conference. The conference which is billed to commence on Wednesday, 27th November, 2024 is expected to produce a new national President of Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ.
“The last administration supported our union with over four million naira for this conference. We were able to fix our bus, fuel it and give little stipend for delegates for their feeding in Umuahia, Abia State. We were also proud we went with our union bus just like other states. But this time around, our union must have to look for an alternative means. The delegate will go on a commercial vehicle
“I am sure our leaders must have sought for same support from the government, especially that things are very difficult these days. But in her usual manner, she must have frustrated the process, because up till today, the delegate are busy looking for away out since it is not a right.”
“But what I am quite sure of, is the fact that our governor, Dr Agbu Kefas that I know, will never allow such to happen if he was properly briefed,” another reporter in the state lamented.
Though leaders of journalists in the state including the chairman, NUJ, Comrade Mathew Eliud, and the Chairman correspondents’ Chapel, Mr Gabriel Yough, all declined comment on the matter, what is obvious as gathered from different reporters in the state is that the men of the pen profession are fed up with the commissioner and are seeking for her removal or at least a swap, to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
A media veteran in the state who also does not want his name in print told our reporter that the Honourable Commissioner is a Barrister of Islamic Law and does not know anything about journalism.
“She doesn’t understand how the ministry of information works. She is more or less a square peg in a round hole. The governor will do journalists in the state well if he replaced her with a most suitable person,” he opined.
