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.
Plateau Journalists Reject Gov. Lalong Anniversary Package
Reviewed by IFEDAYO AKINWALERE
on
10:30:00 pm
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