Minna
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council has advised the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to consider professional journalists and information officers for political appointments in his administration.
The council gave the advice I
resolutions reached at the state Congress of at the IBB Pen House, Minna the state capital during weekday.
In a communiqué, signed by the Chairman and Secretary Communiqué Committee, Daniel Okpole Atori and Celine Moses Alkali respectively, the congress frowned at the recent appointment by Bello, saying that it would have been more applauded if an active journalist was considered.
The Congress said its position was sequel to there cent appointment the appointment of a retiree as the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) Media to the Niger State Pilgrims Board by the governor.
It said that sacrificing positions meant for professionals amounted to undermining the important roles journalists play in building a better society and as well discouraging them from striving to attain greater professional heights.
“The NUJ is calling on Governor Abubakar Sani Bello not to replace positions to be occupied by Professional Journalists and Information Officers in the state civil service with political appointments,” the communique stressed.
The congress said while it was not undermining the position and powers of Bello in choice of who to make his political list, it had however observed that the said new SSA had not given good account of herself before the union.
The Congress said that the development had made it imperative for journalists to draw the governor’s attention to what they felt could be an oversight.
The Journalists, however, commended the state government for its swift action in checking security challenges by reintroducting curfew and regulate the activities and movement of Tricycles (Keke-napep) and commercial motorcycles (Okada) operators in the state.
They expressed optimism that Bello’d swift action would improve the security of lives and property of the people in the state.
“The NUJ commended the state government for the swift action in the reintroduction of curfew on tricycle and okada riders in the state in an effort to surmount security challenges.This is a right step in the right direction,it said.
The congress also commended the state government for reintroducing monthly environmental sanitatition.
It, however, appealed to the relevant health and security agencies in the state to see journalists not as ‘enemies’ but partners in progress, in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.
