NGE Names Egbemode Acting President …Bemoans Economic Down Turn

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has elected the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Telegraph, Mrs Funke Egbemode as its acting president.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its 2016 Second Quarter Standing Committee Meeting last Friday in Abuja, the NGE explained that Egbemode’s election follows the voluntary resignation of its President, Garba Deen Muhammad due mainly to his appointment as the group general manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
According to the communiqué, signed by Funke Egbemode, and General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga, the NGE also appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address the simmering down turn in the economy, to give Nigerians a new lease of life.
“The guild notes with concern that the economy is largely in a bad shape, showing signs of recession, as statistics of unemployment is worsening while the future looks bleak. It, therefore, urges the Federal Government to take urgent steps to revitalise the economy in the area of job and wealth creation in order to alleviate the suffering of the masses,” it stated.
The guild also condemned “in strong terms, the vandalism of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region”, and called for dialogue by creating avenues to engage the various agitators in order to address their concerns.
In the same vein, the NGE also urged the agitators to embrace dialogue.
“The guild also notes with concern, the increasing spate of kidnapping across the country, and calls on the new Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to come up with more proactive measures to curb the menace,” the NGE stressed.
It, however, commended the gallantry of the Nigerian military in its fight against terrorism in the North-East and the recovery of territories from the insurgents, and urged government to pursue the anti-terrorism fight with more vigour until peace is fully restored to the troubled area.
The guild also expressed concern over the pathetic living condition of internally-displaced persons (IDPs), and called on government, corporate organisations, individuals and international agencies to come to their aid.

Josephine Atagana