From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged the Federal Government to pay immediate attention to the suffering Nigerians are experiencing as a result of the fuel subsidy removal, which has caused a dramatic increase in fuel prices.
It would be recalled that on May 29, 2023, during the inauguration ceremony, President Bola Tinubu announced that the fuel subsidy would be scrapped, with immediate effect.
The NUJ President, Chief Chris Isiguzo,
gave the charge at the Triennial Delegates Conference of the Nasarawa State Council of the NUJ held on Thursday in Lafia.
Isiguzo, represented by the Vice President of NUJ North Central Zone( D), Comrade Kris Atsaka, said the federal government must urgently step up its efforts to lessen the immense suffering that residents are currently experiencing.
” We are aware of the removal of fuel subsidy and its attendant positive and some difficult effects it has had on us.
“On the issue of palliatives, the NUJ as an affiliate of the Nigerian Labour Congress recently came out with a resolution that the government has to do better than what it is proposing at the moment.
” We, therefore urged the government to redouble its efforts so that these effects would be more friendly on the citizens of this country,” he said.
The NUJ President congratulated the new officials of the Nasarawa State Council of the NUJ and urged them to work for the benefit of the council and state at large.
Isiguzo also commended the maturity of members of council in the re-election process, saying the comrade Salihu Alkali and his executives performed well during the first administration, hence they were returned unopposed by members of the union.
He equally commended the state government for always standing by the union and prayed God to continue to endow them with the desired knowledge and understanding to pilot the affairs of the state.
The NUJ President therefore called on members to continue support the new leadership of the union to enable them succeed and continue to adhere strictly to their professional ethics.
In their separate goodwill messages,
Alhaji Mohammed Idde, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the State Government ( SSG) Nasarawa State, Mr Allanana Attah, former Permanent Secretary in the state, Alhaji Mukhtar Wakeel, Chief Executive Officer, Nasarawa Newsline, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, state Chairperson, NAWOJ, Nasarawa State, Mr Matthew Kuju, Eggon News, all expressed satisfaction with the past administration of the Salihu Alkali led administration.
They lauded comrade Alkali leadership style and charged him to continue provide an inclusive leadership as they pilot the affairs of the union for the second time.
Delivering his inaugural speech, comrade Alkali appreciated members of the council for giving them the opportunity to serve for another three years.
“As we have been re-elected by you all, I must not forget to inform you that our modest achievements in the state council was instrumental to this development. And we will not hesitate to go on the pace of good leadership and statesmanship which we have built, laid, created and added value to, but to do more by making our priorities greatly laudable in the annals of time.
“I would like to assure all our members of a future assured NUJ in Nasarawa State. I am confident that we will benefit from your prayers and goodwill to succeed in the next step of our journey to prosperity. You have been very supportive and helpful to our administration,” he said.
He, therefore appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for supporting the activities of the union in the state to succeed and promised to continue to partner the state government for growth and development of the state.
The Voice reports that members re-elected were; Comrade Salihu Alkali Chairman , (Precious FM Chapel) Mr Sunday John, Secretary-( NAN, Correspondents’ Chapel) , Anna Jatau as Treasurer- (Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, NBS, chapel), Mr Abari Solomon – Financial Secretary (NTA Chapel) , Mr Abubakar Ayigu as Assistant Secretary (Information Chapel ).
While those elected for the first time are; Adamu Joel as Vice Chairman from Information Chapel and Mary Elawani Onyanei as Auditor (NBS chapel).
