Bauchi.
Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has presented two Toyota Hiace buses to the Bauchi Government House Press Crew, Bauchi and the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state.
Presenting the gesture, the governor noted concern that journalists and other media practitioners were the most dehumanised people in Nigeria.
He further expressed concern that media practitioners were always suffering from the rigour, challenges of news gathering, adding that sometimes, they don’t even have salaries and wages.
According to him, the media people had been suffering in silence, even though they put up a mirror for the society to see itself.
Governor Mohammed said that he gave out the vehicles to show that journalism and media men had dignity, adding that they must be respected and encouraged to work in a manner to create an environment conducive for them.
He said to be above board, media men must be given respect in terms of their contribution to the society.
“This is an opportunity for me to say thank you to my creator for uplifting me to the position of a governor, as a journalist and as a media man. I cannot do better than to identify with my first constituency.
“I’m using this opportunity to call on the media owners to please look at the problems and challenges of media practitioners,”he urged.
He said that when Journalists were accorded the needed respect,in respect of adequate attention to their salaries, wages, allowances, transportation and other welfare package, it would go along way in making their profession to be noble.
“I’m also calling on our colleagues, the governors, the presidency and the rest to respect these people who are always there in the rain, in the sun, asking questions and trying to make the society better by exposing bad governance, and some of our limitations and inadequacies.
“I’m not flattering the media but they are doing so much, they have remained one of the best professionals in terms of what they are doing and they are at par with their global counterparts,” Mohammed said.
He reiterated his pledge to renovate the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Secretariat in the state before the expiration of his tenure.
