Business
Reptiles, Rodents Take Over NUJ Secretariat
Following the recent thunder storm that deroofed the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, the deserted structure has been taken over by rats, lizards and other living organisms.
Journalists’ hope for relief is hinged on the Rivers State Government’s promise to demolish and rebuild it to a modern edifice. A promise that is yet to be fulfilled.
The Tide has observed that the continous dripping of water from the top of the building, particularly during the heavy rainy period probably activated the spread of these organisms, which also have given room to total defacing of entire building.
The scenario this has created is such that could be described as the unusual in the history of NUJ and the Rivers State in its entirety, according to public analysts.
Reacting on this issue while speaking in the recent NUJ congress meeting in Port Harcourt, the chairman of the union in the state, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, has said that several efforts and steps have been made but that all he has received was a promise to rebuild the secretariat, and that nothing tangible has been done since then.
According to the chairman, the Rivers State government has given first promise that the secretariat will be rebuilt within the shortest period, to enable the union’s activities and business continue at the centre, but wondered why nothing has been done uptill now.
He expressed unhappiness over what has become the predicament of the NUJ in Rivers State, even when other younger state councils like Bayelsa, enjoys the “State-of -the art” facilities and building at their press centre.
The chairman, however, urged the state government and other well meaning individuals to take up the challenge to ensure that a befitting secretariat is built for the union’s activities here in Port Harcourt.
It would be recalled that the NUJ building was de-roofed by thunder storm within the second quarter of this year and after making frantic efforts towards the resuscitation, and waiting for some time, the union’s secretariat has to relocate to the premises of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, the publishers of the “The Tide”.
Corlins Walter