From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ) Enugu State Council, has repeated its passionate appeal to the current civilian administration in Enugu state to consider some of its members for appointments related to their profession, assuring they will serve the state with utmost dignity.
NUJ is coming up with the Appeal on the heels of the clamour and lobby by other Unions scouting for appointive positions for their members
The Appeal formed part of the Communique raised at the month of June 2023 State Congress of the Council.held on Thursday,June 29.at the Unity hall of the council. Abnitio, the Appeal was one of the major decisions reached at the previous state congress of the union held in the month of May 2023.
Part of the communique reads,
“The congress in session enjoins State Executive of the Council and influential members of the union to continue to push its members who are usually competent and qualified to occupy public offices in the new political dispensation to do so.
“It notes that other Unions and Associations are already going ahead with their positioning,re-positioning and lobbying especially for those offices related to their professions”‘.
The Congress condemned unruly treatment, harassment and shutting out of practising Journalists from state functions .
Based on provocative comments from members who were present at the congress, stating they were almost ma handled by police men who also barred from entering the Enugu State House of Assembly on June 13.to cover the inauguration of 8th Assembly legislators.
According to the Journalists who fumed uncontrollably, the police men claimed they were given a list of only 15 Journalists by the authorities to be allowed into the premises of the state assembly.
The Congress agreed the incidence contravened Journalism ethics and tasked Comrade Sam Udekwe leadership of Enugu State Council(NUJ) to interface with the authorities and the Commissioner of Police on how to halt the ugly trend.
The communique reads,
“The Council frowns at the spate of shutting out members(Journalists) at major events in the state,noting that every journalist is qualified to cover any public event or function any where and any time in the state especially when representing his/her medium”‘.
The Council also condemned the harassment of it’s members that went to cover public event by the police and call on the authorities of the Nigerian police in the state to educate their members on the workings of journalists which is in the over all interest of the society”‘.
The NUJ. Enugu State Council in their month of June Congress, condemned the upsurge of Kidnap incidents along Abakpa Nike-Opi Nsukka road and urged the law enforcement agencies to redouble efforts to curtail the ugly trend.
