News
Media Stakeholders Demand Amaechi’s Intervention In NUJ House Delay
The Chairman of Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Opaka Dokubo has accused the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (BoPP) of perpetuating the continued refugee status of the union.
The Chairman said the BoPP had ensured that approval for the construction of the proposed NUJ House was not given, more than a year after the demolition of the former structures, and about three years after the de-roofing of the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre Complex by a devastating windstorm.
The NUJ boss, who made the lamentation at a one-day symposium to mark the 2013 World Press Freedom Day at the Ministry of Justice Conference Hall, tongue-lashed the BoPP over some inadvertent lapses which ‘could not have reared their ugly heads if NUJ secretariat had been rebuilt.
The lapses, the chairman observed, could have marred the planned celebration of the World Press Freedom Day event in Port Harcourt, noting that the issues of convenient venue for holding Press Conference or meetings and lack of office space for operational purposes were major challenges for the union.
Dokubo told the audience that the State Government had made all efforts through the Ministry of Information and Communications, for the Bureau to vet and approve the tender documents for award of contract to reconstruct the NUJ House, to no avail.
According to him, the necessity for the project, which had been justified at both State Executive Council and House of Assembly, and adequate funds appropriated in the 2012 Budget, was still being questioned by the bureau. ‘
He told the stakeholders that the executive of the NUJ had done everything under the sun to reach the leadership of the BoPP to explain issues but that the bureau had continued to shut its doors against the union, arguing that the bureau appeared to be deliberately delaying kick-starting the well-intentioned NUJ House to ensure that it was not rebuilt by the Amaechi administration.
Dokubo, who expressed displeasure over the delay tactics in the guise of due process, stated that if NUJ Secretariat had been rebuilt, the glaring short-comings and challenges the union was facing could have been mitigated, and blamed the difficulties and embarrassments encountered by the union and journalists in the state on the BoPP.
In his welcome remarks, organising committee chairman, Ignatius Chukwu, said the aim of the symposium was to keep the fire of freedom alive, as according to him, both journalism and the society thrived on freedom and sustainable democracy.
Prominent Rivers State indigenes at the forum also frowned at the inability of the appropriate government agency to facilitate the reconstruction of the secretariat for journalists practicing in the state, just as they expressed sadness that NUJ officers and members had remained refugees without any good rallying and meeting point in the state.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr Anthony Amakiri, expressed worry that the bureau had unnecessarily delayed vetting of the bid documents for the NUJ house and tasked the Rivers State Governor to intervene to get the project kick-started.
Speakers, who took turns to address the audience, lauded the governance style of the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-Ied administration, especially in the area of encouraging and supporting freedom of the press in the state.
Lead Speaker, Dr. John Idumange, political activist and lecturer in the Niger Delta University (NDU), now Special Adviser to Governor Dickson Seriake of Bayelsa State on Social Media, reflected on the fallen heroes in the profession, and regretted that no government or body cared for the families of journalists who had paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
Udumange regretted the absence of insurance cover for practising journalists, and challenged media owners to institute functional insurance template for journalists and other media workers to guarantee the future of their families, especially children.
Niger Delta ex-agitator Endurance Amagbein has cautioned the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, against politicising the plight of the Niger Delta people over issues surrounding renewal of pipeline surveillance contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
In a statement on Saturday, Amagbein condemned IYC leaders who took a protest to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, demanding the sack of Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited.
The IYC had claimed that the protest was due to non-performance, financial mismanagement and other allegations, but Amagbein refuted the claims.
Amagbein accused the IYC of derailing from its core mandate and delving into partisan oil surveillance politics.
“Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil); Dr Samuel Ogbuku, MD/CEO of NDDC; and Chief Dennis Otuaru, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, are all Ijaw people, but sadly, nobody remembers this to thank Mr President.”
“It is so said that oil politics in the Niger Delta has infiltrated into the affairs of the IYC, and its leaders have allowed surveillance contractors to direct policy statements of the youth body.”
The Tide source reports that Ojulari had said NNPCL is under attack over his leadership stance.
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has begged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying that his reforms and initiatives would in no distant time transform the nation’s economy, security and social landscape.
The Akwa Ibom State Director of NOA, Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, made the appeal in Uyo at the weekend during a sensitization programme organized by the Federal Information Center with focus on the milestones of Tinubu’s administration.
Mkpoutom, who was represented by Mrs Atim Otoyo, Deputy Director Planning, Research and Strategy, recalled that Tinubu on assumption of office on May 29, 2023, had embarked on ambitious reforms and initiatives that would better the lives of Nigerians.
He said the President’s focus is on revitalizing Nigeria’s economy by swiftly addressing the fuel subsidy crisis that had long plagued the nation’s finances.
According to him, by removing fuel subsidies, resources are now reallocated towards critical areas such as infrastructure and social welfare programs.
“This bold decision, although met with public discontent due to rising fuel prices, was a necessary step towards fiscal responsibility,” he said.
Mkpoutom also stated that security remains a paramount concern in Nigeria, stressing that Tinubu’s administration has prioritized the issue since the onset of his administration.
“His administration has focused on strengthening the military and security agencies to combat terrorism, banditry and separatist movements. This includes boosting funding for the Armed Forces and implementing community policing strategies to foster better relationships between law enforcement agencies and local communities.
“President Tinubu’s administration has championed various projects aimed at improving transportation networks, electricity supply, and public amenities as well as initiating programs to create technological hubs to promote digital literacy among young Nigerians,” the NOA official said.
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, has apologised to the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Federal Capital Territory Chapter, over his assault on its member and a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Ladi Bala.
Opeifa apologized at a press conference at the NUJ FCT secretariat in Abuja on Sunday.
The apology comes after NUJ FCT condemned the unwholesome treatment meted out to its members who were covering the recent Abuja-Kaduna train derailment incident.
The NUJ demanded a public apology from Opeifa over the incident.
In his apology on Sunday, Opeifa said he was carried away in the heat of the moment.
“I wish to offer my apology for the regrettable remarks I made, which were not only directed at a seasoned journalist but also reflected unfavourably on the NUJ FCT and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ.
“Acting in the heat of the moment under pressure, and in my attempt to ensure safety, I made certain unkind statements. For this, I take full responsibility, and I am sorry.”
Chairman of NUJ FCT, Grace Ike, had called for calm among journalists over the incident.
Recall that six passengers were injured after the Abuja-Kaduna rail derailed in Jere on Tuesday.