COMMUNIQUE  ISSUED ON RESOLUTIONS REACHED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ) DELTA STATE COUNCIL, HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018 AT THE NLC SECRETARIAT (LABOUR HOUSE), ASABA

The Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Delta State Council took place on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at the Labour House, Asaba.

The well attended Congress deliberated on sundry issues affecting the Union, Delta State and the nation at large, where the follow resolutions were reached.

1. The Congress thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for putting an end to the Union’s land litigation and stressed the need for the state government to facilitate the completion of the Secretariat project of the union.

2. The Congress rejoiced with the Delta State Government on the hosting right of the 2018 Sernor Africa Athletics (CAA) Championship slated for early August this year and commend it for transforming the Stephen Keship Stadium, Asaba into a world class sporting facility.

3. The Congress also commended the Deta State Government for the massive construction work going on simultaneously in different parts of the state, particularly the Asaba water storm and flood control projects and appealed for speedy completion of the projects to reduce the inconveniences faced by residents and road users.

4. The Congress appreciated the place of diverse views in enhancing development and democratic tenents and advised the Delta State Government to continue to be open to constructive criticism.

5. The Congress viewed the continued stay of the N18,000 minimum wage as the perpetration of poverty in the country.

It said that further delay and politizing of the increment of the minimum wage to N65,500 as requested by labour would be the height  of insensitivity by the leadership of the country. It therefore urged the Federal Government to implement the expected new minimum wage by the end of the third quarter of this year as agreed with labour to alleviate the suffering of workers and Nigerians.

6. The Congress equally called on the country’s leadership to put an end to the incessant killings by herdsmen and fast tract the prosecution of arrested killer herdsmen to act as deterrent to others.

7. The Congress decried the harrowing experience faced by citizens of Delta State and parts of the country, in the hands of Officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and condemned  in the strongest terms the continued intimidation, extortion and harassment of citizens on the highways. It therefore, reminded the Inspector General of Police and Corps Marshall of the FRSC on the urgent need to depeen efforts in their primary resonsibility of protecting life and propert, and enforcing road safety.

8. The Congress called on Deltans and residents in the Delta State, and indeed Nigerians to collect their permanent voter cards (PVC) and vote wisely in the 2019 gerenal elections as well as urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sensitize the people through the print, electronic, social media, town criers and fliers and posters on the need for them to collect their PVC’s.

9. On the 2019 general elections, the Congress called on Nigerians to vote only for candidates disposed to restructuring of the country that will bring about true fiscal federalism and the practice of the rule of law. It similarly urged Nigerians to ensure that policians seeking re-election are considered based on țheir track records of performance and public trust.

10. The congress praised the initiative of the Nigerian Senate to amend the Nigeria Police Force Act and urged it to pursue the State/Community Policing Bill before it to its logical comclusion.

Communique drafting committee:

Comrade Andrew Ohwobetehe, Chairman

Comrade Anthonia Mowah, Secretary

Comrade Godwin Udoh, Member

Signed:

Michael Ikeogwu

State Chair man

Churchill Oyowe

State Secretary