The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ has called for the accomodation of its members in the government-sponsored empowerment programs to better their living conditions in the face of the rising cost of living and economic hardship bedeviling the country.
NUJ Ebonyi State Council requested this in its communique signed by the Union's Chairman, Comrade Samson Nwafor, and the Secretary -Comrade Nnamdi Akpa, yesterday during its congress at Dr. Sam Egwu Press Centre Abakaliki.
The Union in a communique drafted by the Communique Drafting Committee Chairman, Comrade Moses Nwite, the Secretary - Brenda Uthulor, and a member - Celestine Okeh, commended the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru for initiating different empowerment programs towards bettering the living conditions of Ebonyi citizens as a way of assisting them to cushion the effects of the economic hardship and demanded for the inclusion of its members as well.
"Congress commends Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for the numerous empowerment programs initiated by his administration towards bettering the living conditions of Ebonyi people in the face of the rising cost of living and economic hardship bedeviling Nigeria; and urges the governor to accommodate members of NUJ in the state's empowerment programs as our members are also having a fair share of the current economic predicament in the country," the Union requested.
The Congress congratulated the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) for the successful conduct of the just concluded local government elections in the state.
The body also commended Governor Nwifuru for the enthronement of enduring democracy and rule of law in Ebonyi, saying the elections would not have held if not for his leadership wisdom as being witnessed in some states of the Federation where governors are still using caretaker committees to run the local government councils.
The Congress equally congratulated the newly elected Council Chairmen in the 13 LGAs and 171 ward councilors in the state and urged them to see their victory as a call to serve their people by the People's Charter of Needs agenda of the state governor.
The council noted the need to take the welfare of members seriously and consequently constituted a 5-man Welfare Committee under the chairmanship of Israel Ekene Mbam to work out modalities for attending to members' welfare.
The body also noted the need to commence the preparations for its 2024 annual Press Week proposed to take place on Thursday, 3rd October 2024, and accordingly, constituted a 17-man Planning Committee under the chairmanship of Amaechi Odo to see to the success of the occasion.
The congress further constituted a 7-man Award Committee chaired by Comrade Felix Uka with the mandate to accept nominations of prospective awardees from the general public, conduct necessary investigations, screen nominees, and come up with successful nominees to be forwarded to the national secretariat for approval ahead of the Press Week Grand Finale where the final shortlisted nominees would be honored.
