NUJ urges Enugu Govt to regularly pay pensions, gratuities to retirees

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged the Enugu State Government to regularly pay pensions and gratuities to retirees to ensure they reap the labour of their youthful age while alive.

This is contained in communiqué issued on Friday after the February Congress of the NUJ Enugu State Council held on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, at the NUJ Press Centre, Enugu.

The communiqué, which was signed by the Secretary of the Council, Mrs Ifeoma Amuta, noted that regular payment of pensions and gratuities was imperative to enable retirees to also meet their financial needs.

The statement further asked the state government to look into the plight of  persons with disabilities by setting up the Disabilities Commission contained in the recently passed Disabilities Law of Enugu State.

“NUJ expresses concern over the worsening traffic gridlock and illegal motor parks springing up in Enugu metropolis and asks those in charge to urgently address the issues.

“The Council asked the state government to consider the plight of residents when demolishing structures and inform them before they build in such places to avoid waste of resources.

“The Council called on the state government to beef up security in the metropolis, especially in the Independence Layout axis,” it said.

It commended the state government for the massive ongoing infrastructural projects in the state, and urged contractors handling those projects to complete them before the rains set in.

“The Council commended the state government for paying additional money (Wage Award) to workers and appealed to the state government to review the salaries of the workers in line with expected national minimum wage when concluded,” he said.

According to the communique, the Congress commended the NUJ Enugu State Council for the financial welfare package that had greatly assisted any member facing one difficulty or the other.

“It commended the journalists in Enugu State for maintaining their role as the voice of the voiceless in the state,” it added.