The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra State Council has appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to make available subsidized vehicles to convey civil servants in the state to and from work to cushion the effects of the hike in fuel pump price.
It also urged officials of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to look into the unbearable fuel hike by petrol station owners in the State and do the needful.
The Council made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its June’s monthly congress, held at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Center Awka and signed by Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Odogwu Emeka and Secretary, Comrade Aloysius Ofodile.
The Congress however praised Chukwuma Soludo-led government for embarking on massive road construction and rehabilitation across the state, urging the government to up the ante.
It further appealed to people of the state to imbibe the spirit of cleanliness and endeavour to keep their environment clean by desisting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the waterways and undesignated places.
The Congress also urged the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), to intensify efforts towards promoting measures to ensure that road crashes were reduced to the barest minimum aside apprehending defaulters of traffic rules.
While advising its members to be security conscious and make safety their watchword, the Congress commended efforts of security agents in addressing the issue of insecurity bedeviling the state and enjoined them not to rest on their oars.
The communique reads, “Congress urged the political class and others to see journalists as partners in progress rather than as rivals.
“The Congress called on the Government to appreciate the enormous work of journalists in the state and also recognize the journalists as the 4th Estate of the realm in the state.
“The Congress called for collaboration and partnership. The Congress also called on every journalist to endeavour to identify with the Union by belonging to a Chapel.as the union has about 20 Chapels in the state.
The Congress appealed to Government to apply human face while deliberating on the issue of Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation, ANPC (Publishers of National Light Newspapers) considering its historical and symbolic value to the State and workers.
“The Congress also frowned at the rumours of shutting down National Light and asked government to reconsider its intentions for journalists are prime for any society to thrive.
“The Congress resolved that going forward, anyone or organization who constitutes nuisance for journalists carrying out their lawful duties will be treated as an enemy of the Union.
“The Congress once again expressed its readiness to carry out their job as the mouthpiece of the people without fear or favour.
“The Congress appreciated the efforts of the security agents in addressing the issue of the insecurity bedeviling the state and enjoined the security agents not to rest on their oars.”