The Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed concern over the country’s impending food crisis, as well as the increasing costs of foodstuffs, cooking gas, and other household goods.
The Union encouraged the government at all levels to take urgent action to improve the situation.
The NUJ further urged members of the Plateau State House of Assembly to set aside their personal interests and handle the existing problem in the Assembly “in accordance with the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution and in the benefit of the State.”
This was stated in a statement published following the Council’s Congress in Jos, the State Capital, and signed by the President of the Council.
It reads: “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 the government to take urgent steps to arrest the situation.
“Council decried the looming food crisis in the country and the continued hike in prices of food stuff in the market thereby making life difficult and unbearable for citizens.
“The NUJ appealed to the Government to put in place a price control mechanism to ensure the affordability and accessibility of food to the public.”
On the current leadership crisis bedeviling the Plateau State House of Assembly, the NUJ said, “Council observed with dismay the leadership tussle at the Plateau State House of Assembly which has painted the State in bad light.”
Recall that the State House of Assembly has been in crisis since the purported impeachment of Abok Ayuba from his position as Speaker by 8 members three weeks ago, and declaring Yakubu Sanda as the new Speaker.
“Council 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 Union admonished.
On the defiling of the curfew imposed on tricycle riders in the Jos-Bukuru metropolis, “Council noted with concern the adamant nature of some tricycle riders also known as Keke Napep, who defy the 6pm curfew imposed by the Plateau State Government thereby constituting traffic nuisance and security risk at night.
“Council calls on the law enforcement agencies to beam their searchlight on these tricycle riders with a view to bringing them to book”.
“Council noted with dismay the indiscriminate use of NUJ/PRESS stickers by commercial drivers and none members.
“Council appealed to the FRSC, the Police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that anybody who carries NUJ/PRESS stickers should provide his/her NUJ identity card and that of his 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 calls for synergy between journalists and security personnel in the interest and development of Plateau and Nigeria.”
Source: Read more at tvcnews.tv
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