NUJ urges Governor Aiyedatiwa to restore storm-damaged press centre

By Boye Oyeyemi, Akure –

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to order the immediate repair of the main building of the Press Centre in Akure, which was recently damaged by a rainstorm.

The call was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the union’s monthly congress held at the Press Centre, Alagbaka, Akure, and presided over by the State Chairman, Prince Leke Adegbite.

The congress, attended by members from various chapels, also commended the governor for appointing a professional journalist, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, as Commissioner for Information and Orientation.

The union urged the commissioner to implement critical and strategic policies that would strengthen journalism practice in the state and promote access to information.

Participants at the meeting expressed concern over the casualisation of staff by private media organisations operating in the state, describing the trend as exploitative and a violation of international labour laws.

The union called on media proprietors to stop the practice and prioritise the welfare and job security of their employees.

The NUJ further urged both the federal and Ondo State governments to urgently address the shortage of manpower in publicly owned media organisations, including the FRCN, NTA, OSRC/Orange FM, and The Hope newspaper.

While applauding journalists in the state for upholding ethical standards in their reporting, the congress cautioned against the spread of misinformation and fake news.