The Nigeria Union of Journalists has asked the Tinubu led Administration to as a matter of urgency, reverse the trend of hunger in the land.
The astronomical cost of cement also worries the Union which made its stance known in a communique issued at the end of its NEC meeting in Abuja.
It reads;-
COMMUNIQUE OF THE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS, (NUJ) NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING IN ABUJA HELD ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024
The National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), presided over by the National President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, deliberated on a wide range of issues and concluded on a communique as follows:
STATE OF THE NATION
1. NEC sympathies with Nigerians over the current hardship they are going through and appeals to President Bola Tinubu and his economic team to expedite action in reversing the trend of hunger in the country by addressing the rising cost of food items and other consumables.
2. NEC appeals to the Federal Government of Nigeria to put in measures to drastically bring down the cost of cement in the country as the present hikes are largely artificial, bearing in mind that over 70 percent of raw materials for cement are locally sourced.
NEC strongly believes that the situation is adversely affecting a large labour force in the country, particularly those in the building and construction industry, and if not checked, could further dislocate the already fragile economy of the country.
3. NEC calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to expedite action to ensure that the nation’s refineries are in good working condition in order to reduce the negative impact of importation of petroleum products on the naira and the economy.
4. NEC describes the poor state of Nigerian roads as a security risk and and a major cause of the economic downturn in the country, and calls for their swift rehabilitation/reconstruction by the federal government.
STATE OF THE UNION
1. NEC approves the appointment of ACHIKE CHUDE as the new National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
2.NEC congratulates Comrade Abdulrazak Kaura on his emergence as the President of Kaura Namoda Polytechnic Alumni Association.
3. Stringent measures should be taken to curtail the abuse of press stickers by non members of the NUJ.
4. NEC Condemns the attack on journalists in Edo State during the APC primaries and backs the ultimatum given by the Edo State Council for the replacement of equipment destroyed, payment of medical bills and unreserved apology to the Union.
5. NEC commends Ebonyi State Government for providing utility bus for council and approval for the renovation of NUJ Secretariat.
Akorede R. Opeyemi,
Assistant National Secretary, NUJ
Communique Drafting Committee
1. Churchill Oyowe, Chairman
2. Abubarkar Musa Waziri, Secretary
3. Ayuku Pwaspo, Member
