By Tongnaan Dada Bawa, Jos
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Plateau State Council has expressed deep concern over the leadership tussle at the Plateau State House of Assembly which has painted the state in bad light.
Plateau State NUJ in a Communique issued at the end of its Congress held at it’s Press Centre on Wednesday in Jos signed by the Council Secretary, Peter Amine called on the legislators to put aside their personal interest and address the issues in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in the interest of the State.
The communique advised the Plateau State Government and reputable organisations in the state to take advantage of trained and professional journalists in propagating their activities to avoid misrepresentation rather than using untrained persons under the guise of bloggers who do not understand the rudiments of journalism and have no gatekeepers which is key in news reporting.
According to the communique, “Council noted with dismay the indiscriminate use of NUJ/PRESS stickers by commercial drivers and none members. Council appealled to the FRSC, the Police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that anybody who carries NUJ/PRESS sticker should provide his/her NUJ identity card and that of her office as a means of identification. Failure to do so, the individual should be apprehended for impersonation and be penalised according to law”
“Council also expressed dismay over the attitude of some overzealous security personnel who express contempt towards journalists in the discharge of their professional duties. Council call for synergy between journalists and security personnel in the interest and development of Plateau and Nigeria. Meanwhile, Council commended security agencies for the relative peace the state has enjoyed in the last few weeks and call for sustainable measures to consolidate on the fragile peace.
The NUJ however decried the looming food crisis in the country and the continue hike in prices of food stuff in the market thereby making life difficult and unbearable for citizens.
The Journalists appealed to Government to put in place a price control mechanism to ensure the affordability and accessibility of food to the public.
“Council also observed with displeasure the high cost of living in the country and the skyrocketing price of cooking gas as well as the artificial fuel scarcity and called on government to take urgent steps to arrest the situation”.
