The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Southeast Working Committee has called on the Federal and Southeast states governments to declare a state of emergency on the southeastern roads.
In a communiqué released after the zonal meeting of the union in Owerri Imo State Wednesday 14 August 2016, the union decried the deplorable state of the roads in the zone stating that all the roads in the southeast were death traps.
The communiqué singed by the Vice President and Zonal Secretary of Zone C, Deacon Chris Isiguzo and Comrade Kenneth Oforma respectively called on the Federal government to take holistic measures to stop the activities of herdsmen in Southeast zone following cases of killing, rape of women and wanton destruction of farmlands by these herdsmen and their cows.
It stated that there’s need for the diversification of the nations mono-economy with particular attention to Agriculture through development of agricultural chain values, supply of fertilizers and other agro inputs to real farmers.
Among other issues raised by the meeting in the communiqué includes the prompt payment of workers’ salaries, gratuity and pension by all employers of labour especially the Southeast states governments which according to it has brought about stale relationship between workers and their employers.
The NUJ Zonal leadership frowned at indiscriminate leasing of NUJ property to businessmen in the various state councils and warned that henceforth any such transaction without endorsement of National Secretariat as represented by the Zonal leadership would be null and void.
While condemning in strong terms the recent attack on NTA Onitsha by yet to be identified gun men for whatever reason, it “called on security personnel to fish out the culprits and make them face the law”.
The southeast NUJ however noted with dismay the negative condition of the economy on the people and “called on the Federal, state and local governments as a matter of urgency to come out with some palliatives to cushion the effects on the people as Nigerians are facing serious hardship”
It expressed regrets that most state owned print media establishments have become moribund and therefore urged the States governments in the zone to revive all print media outfit in their States to become functional while calling on all employers of media workers both government and private to clear arrears of salaries owed to media staff.
The meeting commended Governor Rochas Okorocha for the massive infrastructural development and transformation being witnessed in Imo state and urged him not to relent in his vision and resolve to further implement his transformation agenda.
The NUJ officials later paid a courtesy call on Governor Rochas Okorocha where the communique was formally handed over to him.
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