Rivers NUJ Laments Deplorable Condition Of Secretariat, Seeks Govt Intervention
Edith CHUKU
The newly elected executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Rivers State council, has expressed worry over the dilapidated state of their secretariat.
NUJ excos lamented that the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, located at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, was in deplorable condition, needing urgent rehabilitation.
They called on the state government, to come to their aid by revamping the secretariat.
The state NUJ chairman, Mr Paul Bazia, made this call when he led other NUJ executives and members on a courtesy visit to the permanent secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr Emmanuel Ndah, at his office at the Podium Block of the state secretariat complex.
Bazia also revealed some other challenges the union was facing to the perm sec.
He said, “in terms of mobility, we have no vehicle, the one we have is in a bad shape, most of the facilities are bad.
“We need you to help push out issues to the administrator pending when our governor will be restored.”
The NUJ chair also noted that the essence of the visit was to introduce the new executives of the union to the permanent secretary, while assuring that the union would ensure factual reportage that will bring about the development of the state.
He further assured the readiness of the new executives to work with the government to change what he described as the negative narratives and move the state forward.
He also thanked Ndah for receiving them in such a short notice.
In his response, the permanent secretary assured the NUJ leaderahip that he will do everything within his reach to ensure that the union was put in the front burner and gets to the appropriate quarters.
Ndah stressed that the efforts of the state sole administrator was to carry out programmes that can be achieved in six months and urged the NUJ to make demands that can be achieved within that period.
“The administrator has put so much effort to not only carry out achievable programmes but ensure peace and security in the state.”
He, however, instructed the new executives to carry every member of the union along in the scheme of things. “After the election, the union is now one, carry every body along so that the union will move forward.”
