Don’t attack journalists – NUJ warns politicians

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 Newspot through the NUJ National Secretary, Achike Chude on Sunday.

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.

Advertisement

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.

“NEC frowns at the lingering insecurity across the nation, especially kidnapping and violent crimes in the South East, Insurgency in the North East, Banditry in North West and rising militancy in the South South as well kidnapping in the South West and cattle rustling and attack on farmlands in the North Central by herders.

“NEC calls on the heads of the nation’s security apparatus to rise to the occasion and address the situation.

“NEC expresses dismay at the increasing cost of living conditions particularly the prices of essential commodities which is becoming unbearable to Nigerians and called on the Federal Government to come up with immediate measures to ameliorate the sufferings being faced by Nigerians. On this, NEC expressed concerns at the delay in production at the Dangote Refinery which would have eased the present economic hardship in the country.

“NEC frowns at the incessant vandalization of power installations supplying electricity to some States of the North East and other parts of the country, and therefore calls on the Transmission Company of Nigeria and Ministry of Power to immediately restore electricity supply to the affected States.

“NEC calls on Federal and State Governments to urgently intervene on the poor state of roads in the country and further calls on the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to urgently proffer measures to ease the sufferings of motorists.”