The Nigeria Union of Journalists B Zone has commended the Ogun State Gov. Prince Dapo Abiodun on the appointment of a journalist as the Head of Service in Ogun State, Kehinde Onasanya, calling on other Southwest governors to emulate the kind gestures.
The Union demanded that it is pertinent for any government to ensure that they elevate qualified journalists/ information officers to the position of Permanent Secretary, Head of Service, and other key public offices, respectively.
The commendation followed in a communique issued during a B zone meeting held in Oyo state on Friday, while also applauding Gov. Seyi Makinde for his support to media practitioners in the State.
“The leadership of the NUJ Zone B specifically appreciated the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for appointing a journalist, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya as the first NUJ member to be the Head of Service of the state. The Union appealed to other State Governors to magnanimously elevate qualified journalists/Information officers to the position of Permanent Secretary, Head of Service, and other key public offices. ”
The Union also appealed to governors on the need to improve the status of Federal and State-owned media houses, adding that it would enable members to serve the public efficiently and effectively in information dissemination.
” The Zone bemoaned the deplorable condition of facilities at States and Federal Government-owned media outfits in the Southwest, calls on Governments to improve on funding of their own media organizations in the Southwest region to enable our members to serve the public efficiently and effectively”.
Other resolutions of the meeting are
1. The Southwest NUJ commends the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for the approval to host the NUJ NEC meeting in Ibadan, which is the gathering of leadership of all journalists across the country; noting that the gesture is a demonstration of Gov. Makinde’s love for the media.
2. The Zone equally hailed the Forum of Veteran Journalists, Oyo State chapter for renovating and recent commissioning of their structure at the Oyo State NUJ Press Center.
3. The Union appreciated Southwest Governors, particularly the Governors of Oyo, Osun, and Ogun, who have always provided support for their State Councils and their members, urging others to emulate such gestures
4. The Zone calls for urgent actions from the Federal Government to reconstruct and rehabilitate some deplorable roads in the Southwest region, especially Ilesha-Ibadan expressway, Akure-Ado Ekiti road, Ibadan-Odeda-Abeokuta road among others.
5. The Zone also urges the Federal Government to review some of its economic policies and come up with innovations that would provide succor to the suffering masses.
6. The B-Zone charges the Government to immediately reach a cable resolution with the NLC/TUC in approving an acceptable new National Minimum wage for workers amidst harsh economic situation in the country.
7. The Zone commends the Oyo Council for hosting a successful Zonal Meeting.
