NUJ President Begs Akeredolu On Insurance Scheme For Ondo Journalists

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo has appealed to the Ondo state government to stop marginalisation of members of the Union in the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the state.

Isiguzo made the appeal at the weekend at Governor’s Office in Akure during a Courtesy Visit on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, as part of his 3-day Working Visit to Ondo state Council of NUJ.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon Sunday Abegunde; the State Head of Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye as well as the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon Donald Ojogo, received the NUJ National leadership on behalf of Governor Akeredolu who was on official visit outside the state.

The NUJ President also expressed satisfaction with giant strides of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration in the area of massive road construction and provision of modern classrooms at the state public schools.

He said from what he has been reading and what he had observed since he arrived the state, it was obvious that Governor Akeredolu’s administration is doing very well in road construction and provision of conducive learning environment through school renovation.

Isiguzo who commended Governor Akeredolu for his decision to provide Life Insurance Scheme for all members of his Government House Press Crew, urging the governor to extend such gesture to all practicing Journalists in the Sunshine State.

“We are grateful to Mr Governor for this wonderful gesture for people in your Press Crew and we want to also appeal to your Excellency to extend this laudable gesture to other journalists in this state.

“Former Governor (Olusegun) Mimiko few years ago, subscribed Life Insurance Scheme for all NUJ members in this state; we plead the your Excellency should also help in this regard, this will further cement cordial relationship between your government and our colleagues in this state. You will continue to have fair press reportage.

On the appointment of Permanent Secretaries, the NUJ President said it was unfortunate that despite having qualified top bureaucrats in the service of the state, NUJ members had been largely marginalised.

“It has been more than a decade that we have any of NUJ member as a permanent secretary in the state service, we want to appeal to your Excellency to consider some of our qualified colleagues for this.”

Isiguzo who expressed profound gratitude to Governor Akeredolu for recent donation of a Toyota Corolla Car to Ondo state Council of NUJ to enhance their daily operations, reminded the state government of a promise to give a facelift to facilities at the NUJ Press Centre in Akure.

The NUJ President advised the State Head of Service, Dare Aragbaiye and the State Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo not to relent in their wonderful performances in giving the Akeredolu’s administration good image at all time especially in their robust relationship with NUJ and its members.

“NUJ wants to thank your Excellency for appointment of over six of colleagues into your government in different capacities. This shows that you believe in our colleagues in this state; the payment of weigh-in allowance for our members is also important your Excellency”

Responding, Governor Akeredolu said all the requests of the NUJ national leadership would be studied meticulously, assuring that qualified NUJ members would soon be considered for the position of Permanent Secretaries.

He noted that appointment of Permanent Secretaries since his assumption of office had strictly based on merit, adding that no segment of the public service would suffer marginalisation under his watch.

Akeredolu expressed appreciation to the NUJ leadership for his recent Investiture as Ondo NUJ Grand Patron and Award of Excellence in Infrastructural Development, promising that his administration would continue to see the media as partner.

In a remark, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon Donald Ojogo described journalists in Ondo state as set of the best that could be found anywhere, commending NUJ leadership for galvanizing members to ensure the state government always received fair press reportage.