~ HOLDS FIRST STATE CONGRESS OF THE YEAR
The Nigerian Union of Journalists Anambra council has in it's first meeting for the year called on the Federal government to look into ways to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians especially as it concerns the high level of extortion by petroleum marketers through the high cost of petroleum products and the cash crunch in the state. The February 2nd, 2023 meeting of the Anambra State Council of the NUJ was the first of its kind for the year, 2023. The meeting attracted journalists from different chapels across the state; including past executive members of the state council, as well as zonal and national executive members of the council from the state.
The union led by Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD after its congress, observed that the scarcity and high cost of petroleum products, which has translated into high cost of transportation, and high cost of living are seriously bitting on the citizenry, and require urgent government intervention; because of potential danger they pose to the society.
The council meeting also called on the President Mohammadu Buhari led federal government, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to restore normalcy, and make petroleum products available, and at affordable prices before the presidential polls, for ease of movement in the state.
The communique also frowned at a situation where citizens have monies in banks; but do not have access to their funds in the financial institutions, Points of Services (POS), and ATMs, and called on relevant authorities to reverse the situation in order to ameliorate people's suffering.
The council however regretted that despite public enlightenment for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), many registered voters are yet to collect theirs. It further called on citizens to exercise their civic responsibilities by collecting theirs to enable them vote during the coming elections. It also urged INEC to make PVCs available to registered voters. The council therefore called on journalists, especially those domiciled in Anambra state, should not be found wanting in any manner, as watchdogs of the society.
The council led by Dr Emeka Odogwo further commended the Anambra State government under Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for the massive interventions in roads across the state; and encouraged him to maintain the tempo. He however called on Anambra state government to pay workers who are still being owed arrears of Leave Allowances in some ministries and parastatals, and called on the state government to liquidate the accumulated arrears.
The council in it's meeting commended candidates of different political parties domicile in Anambra state, and running for different elective positions in the state for the display of maturity in addressing issues, as against name-calling, intimidation of opponents, etc, as we go into the election proper, and also urged them to maintain the status quo.
The council in it's wisdom further drew the attention of Anambra state government to the illicit activities of certain traffic personnel and officers within the Bridge Head axis of Onitsha; which has continued to affect the motoring public. The council calls on relevant authorities to call affected officers or personnel to order.
As February 25 Election date beckons ,hence all electorates should tow the part of peace and ensure a hitch free election across the state, and that youths must shun all vices and violence associated with politics but use their ballot to ensure a new Government and leadership is enthroned in Anambra and Nigeria.