(Lokoja)
The new chairman of the National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ), Kwara state chapter, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi has urged the state government to implement special salary scale for journalists in its employment.
He also asked the government to work out special allowances for all journalists covering COVID-19 programmes in the state, as it did for frontline health workers.
Akanbi gave the advice while speaking shortly after the swearing of the new executives of NALVEJ in Ilorin, the state capital on Wednesday.
The chairman, however, praised the Governor of the state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for bringing the state broadcasting corporation (Radio Kwara) back to life.
He, however, urged the governor to extend similar development effort to the state-owned, The Herald newspapers and Kwara Television Service to enable them compete favourably with their peers in any part of the World.
For the veterans journalists, Akanbi urged the state government to tap from their valuable experiences by considering some of them for political appointments.
He promised to prioritise the welfare and wellbeing of all NALVEJ members in the state by ensuring that they had routine medical check up and health talks in partnership with the state’s branch of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA).
In their goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Communication, Alhaji Murtala Olanrewaju and the Special Adviser on Political Matters, Alhaj Sa’adu Salahu highlighted some of the achievements of the Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration in the last one year.
Olanrewaju restated the commitment of the governor to rejuvenating The Herald and Kwara Television Service, similar to what he did for Radio Kwara.
On his part, Salahudeen assured Kwarans that Governor AbdulRazaq “is in government to serve them, adding that ” the governor’s achievements are physical on the ground for the people to see.”
Earlier, Barr. Ibrahim Akangbe, administered the oath of office on the new executives of NALVEJ.
An ophthalmologist with state general hospital, Ilorin, Dr Abdullahi Tahoeed emphasised the need for members of the league to give needed attention to their personal health, in his health talk with them at the occasion.
Duaglobalnews reports that other new members of NALVEJ executive include: Mr Ola- Olu Ajayi,( Vice chairman), Alhaji Mudasiru Adewuyi(Secretary) and
Christy Doyin( assistant secretary).
Others are: Mrs Yemi Ademokoya- Agboola(Treasurer), Alhaji Sule Sabi(Financial secretary), Alhaji Ibrahim Salami(Internal auditor) and Alhaji Abdullahi Olesin( Publicity secretary).
The immediate past chairman of the league and his vice,Revd. Omoyele Akindele as well as Mr Kayode Adeyipo were elected ex- officio members. Other ex- officio members are Prince Charles Osagie and Mr Niyi Olalere.
