A COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE CONGRESS OF THE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), ONDO STATE COUNCIL, HELD ON THURSDAY, 30TH JANUARY 2025, AT THE PRESS CENTRE, PEN CRESCENT, ALAGBAKA-AKURE
The January edition of the Congress was heralded by a special prayer session and was well attended by members from across all chapels. It was presided over by the state chairman, Leke Adegbite.
The Congress deliberated on a varieties of issues, ranging from politics, economy, security and environment to welfare of its members, resolved as follows;
1. That the Congress unanimously commended quality leadership being rendered by the State Executives of Ondo NUJ under Prince Leke Adegbite especially in protecting interests of all journalists practising in Ondo State, urging the Exco not to relent.
2. That the Congress notes with empathy that workers of Owena Press, publisher of The Hope newspaper, are yet to be captured in the new N73,000 minimum wage approved by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the state workers, calling on Mr Governor to urgently intervene to ensure that our members at The Newspaper benefit from the new minimum wage regime to cushion the negative effects of the economic hardship in Nigeria.
3. Still on the new minimum wage as it affects our colleagues in NTA, FRCN, NAN and other federal media organizations, that the Congress unanimously called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to monitor implementation of the new minimum wage at federal level, to prevent further irregualarities in salary payment for federal media workers nationwide.
The Union urges Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, to come up with a proper template of implementing the new minimum wage, so that our members are not unjustly shortchanged.
4. That the NUJ notes with satisfaction the ongoing repositioning of OSRC/Orange FM media group under the new CEO/DG, Mr Kenneth Odusola Stevenson and encourages to sustain the good work he started recently.
5. That the Congress applauds Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for ensuring successful and peaceful conduct of local government election held recently across the state after many years of not having elected Council bosses and called on the government to hit the ground running in areas of infrastructural development especially at the grassroots.
6. That the Congress decried the flagrant display of goods on motor ways, especially on major roads in Akure, the state capital as well indiscriminate parking of Tricycles on Arakale/NEPA to Oba Adesida roads, calling on the State Government to create parking spaces for them, while displaced Traders on roads at Alagbaka to NEPA areas in Akure should be provided with suitable marketing spaces.
7. That the Congress expressed worry that the process of recruiting teachers into public primary and secondary schools in the state was yet to be concluded going to one year that the process started. Ondo NUJ enjoined the State Government to as a matter of urgency clear all the impediments and concluded the recruitment process without delay to save the state Education sector from total collapse.
8. That The Congress commended the new Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Olutokunbo Afolabi for his new security initiative ‘Safe Community’ aimed at resolving communal disputes and ensuring that residents of various communities live peacefully with one another.
9. That members at the meeting appreciated the immediate past Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Otunba Wale Akinlosotu for supporting hosting of the Congress; while the Union expressed deep gratitude to those who supported the 2024 Ondo NUJ Press Week Celebrations.
COMMUNIQUE DRAFTING COMMITTEE;
1. Precious Oluwole (Federated Chapel)
2. Omorinola Hungbeji (OSRC/Orange FM chapel)
3. Isaac Afolabi (Radio Nigeria Positive FM chapel)
Signed:
Olaoluwa Meshack
State Secretary, NUJ.
