Plateau Journalists Reject Gov. Lalong Anniversary Package

Governor Simon Bako Lalong

Umar Abdullahi, Jos

The Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Plateau State has offered to return the anniversary package sent to them by Governor Simon Bako Lalong during the second year anniversary celebration of the All Progressive Congress, APC administration in the state.

The decision to return the offer was unanimously taken at a congress taken held Tuesday at the premises of the state NUJ secrete presided by its Chairman, Yusuf Amino Idegu of the Nation newspaper.

Our Correspondent reports that the chapel members alongside the leadership of the state council and independent publishers might not have been happy with the manner the anniversary program went.

The obvious remains that during the anniversary press briefing, the usual press conference fees were not paid leaving younger reporter on open lamentation over unexplained reason.

The most disturbing scenario which compels the correspondents chapel members to take such action may not be unconnected to the lackadaisical attitude of the governor in responding to the needs of journalists in the state that eluded them for a long time now.

The anniversary celebration further compounded issues, to the fact that instead of the governor to use the platform to address various desires, he rather preferred to send miserable monies to various groups of journalists as an anniversary package.

For instance, the correspondents chapel that has membership of over 60 reporters representing, national and international Ratios, TV and newspapers, were given N250,000 to share. While independent publishers were given N80,000 among others.

This development, according to journalists in the state the action of the governor and his media team to the press is totally an act of affront, disrespect and upright disregard to the role of Journalists in the state.

When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor Dan Manjang said the situation became imperative considering the economic situation facing the state.

"What I can say is to appeal to my colleagues to bear it with us, because you heard how the governor explained yesterday, even the Commissioner had also said it, we are sacrificing overheads of all political office holders to pay salary".

"We are hoping and trusting God that thing will improve, let the Journalists just manage what we have for them at the moment, even if it is N2,000.00 let them share".

It is also gathered that other groups have equally turned down the gift.