THE Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has cautioned politicians in Ondo and Edo to refrain from arbitrary attack of journalists on essential duties during the forthcoming elections in the states. The union made this declaration via a communique issued at the end of its quarterly National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting held in Ibadan between Thursday and Saturday.
The communique was drafted by Comrade Amos Etuk, Chairman, NUJ Akwa-Ibom State Council, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Chairman, NUJ, Anambra State Council and Comrade Chiroma Ali Ibrahim, Secretary, NUJ, Borno State Council and Comrade Mary Replong Domtur, Secretary, NUJ, Plateau State Council.
It was made available to newsmen through the NUJ National Secretary, Achike Chude yesterday. The union also expressed concern over the increasing cost of living in the country, and urged the Federal Government to come up with immediate measures to ameliorate the sufferings being faced by Nigerians.
The union also frown at the incessant vandalization of power installations supplying electricity to some states of the North East and other parts of the country. NUJ equally called on the federal and state governments to urgently intervene on the poor state of roads in the country. Parts of the communique read, “NEC mandates the National Secretariat to overhaul and reorganize the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ, by instituting a new Governing Council for optimal performance.
“NEC cautions politicians to refrain from attacking Journalists on essential duties during the upcoming Governorship elections in Ondo and Edo States respectively. NEC equally frowns at the incessant and arbitrary arrests and detention of Journalists in the line of duty by security personnel and urges that such uncouth actions be stopped forthwith.
