By Anietie Akpan
The Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council has frowned at the non involvement of the Union in current on going ministerial press conferences by members of the Cross River State Executive Council.
Rising from its monthly congress presided over by the State Chairman, Comrade Archibong Bassey at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre on Wednesday, the Union said it is absurd that some members of the Governor Bassey Otu led Exco will brief a select media in the state without following due process.
That such press conferences by some Exco members of the state government without the involvement of the Union are illegal and divisive and at the same time depriving the state government of the robust publicity it should get from an all embracing press conferences involving several media houses in the state.
Accordingly, the Union in a five point communique signed by the Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee, Ubon Ekanem the Secretary, Joseph Abasi-Abasi and Edel Ita as Member and issued at the end of the Congress, made a passionate appeal to the Cross River State Executive Council members “to bear in mind that the ongoing ministerial press briefing over the present administration one year in office is actually the initiative of the NUJ.
“Henceforth, Congress expects Commissioners and Special Advisers to avail themselves of the facilities at the Ernest Etima Bassey Press Centre for such ministerial briefings”.
The Union commended the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu for the tremendous strides achieved within the one year in office but however appealed to the state government “to adopt some interventionist measures to alleviate commuters sufferings along Federal Highway within the state like Calabar – Itu highway and Calabar – Ikom – Ogoja highway” even though the roads are within the purview of the Federal Government.
On current hardship in the country, the Union noted with concern the current economic hardship that has resulted in the skyrocketing prices of basic food items and appealed to the state government to explore measures such as price control mechanism to cushion the effect of the high cost of basic food items in the state.
The Union also commended the effort of the state government on security and appealed for a greater attention to be focused to protect lives and property especially as it concerns residents of Idim Ita and Itonde communities in Calabar South Local Government of the state.
In this regards, the Union urged security agencies, “to step up regular patrol in view of the incessant cases of kidnapping, rape and robbery in the affected communities”.
The Congress of the Union drew the attention of the state government to the plight of the people of Okoyong community in Odukpani Local Government Area over the more than five years blackout experience by the people due to the absence of electricity supply which has led to increase in crime rate in the area.