The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)

  • Lagos Media Marathon will boost Ambode’s road races revival, says Alli

    Athletics legend Yussuf Alli has described the decision of the Lagos chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to organise a road race as one of the best things that happened to marathon and road races since Governor Akinwunmi Ambode revived the culture in February 2016 with the Lagos City Marathon.

    “The media is the fourth estate of the realm because journalists set agenda and we follow. The decision to organise a road race which is open to all Nigerians with special prizes for journalists and non-journalists will make millions of Nigerians embrace the culture of running, I am so happy with the decision.”

    Alli who was within the Top 10 ranking athletes in the world during his active years in the men’s long jump alongside legends like Carl Lewis and Mike Powel for a decade is now the poster face for the organisation of top road races across Nigeria, including the Lagos City Marathon which is an IAAF Bronze Label race, Okpekpe Road Race, Aba Half Marathon and others.

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    He said that when media practitioners sing the gospel of walking, jogging, running, general exercise and its immense health benefits more and more citizens will embrace it thus leading to a healthier and more productive workforce and less spending by the government on healthcare.

    He added: “ Since Governor Ambode revived the culture of marathon in 2016 with the Lagos City Marathon, there has been an upsurge in the interest of Lagosians and Nigerians alike in road races and marathon, so with the media coming in now, that will even help further.”

    Alli said he would be more than willing to also help with the Lagos Media Marathon to make it a success right from its first edition.

    The Lagos City Marathon General Manager commended the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and other relevant bodies that were involved in the planning of the Lagos Media Marathon fixed for May 1, 2019.

  • Police warn social media users, bloggers against fake news

    The Police Command in Cross River has warned social media users and bloggers operating in the state to desist from using `online’ to spread fake news.

    The command gave the warning in a statement by its Spokesperson, Mrs Irene Ugbo, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, on Friday in Calabar.

    Ugbo said that some bloggers and social media users were in the habit of posting fake news in their blogs and websites to propagate cheap blackmail by inciting the public against government institutions.

    She said that the command, in collaboration with the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state would not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or group peddling fake news.

    According to her, some of the bloggers who have joined the media profession without requisite training and journalism background were frustrating the cordial working relationship of NUJ and the Police in the state.

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    Ugbo said that some unscrupulous social media bloggers were trying to frustrate the media’s effort and reputation gained in championing the enthronement of democracy and respect for human rights in the country.

    “They are in a habit of posting fake and unconfirmed stories in their respective websites and social media platforms, aimed at cheap blackmail and spread of rumour to incite the public against government institutions.

    “In the same vein, the command wants to categorically state that the fake news making rounds on social media that three babies were stolen at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital is not true.

    “The story is a blatant lie and calculated attempt to undermine or tarnish the hospital’s reputation, thereby causing security breach in the state and the hospital,’’ she stated.

    (NAN)

  • Kaduna needs spiritual, political deliverance – Shehu Sani

    …flags off reelection campaign

     

     

    Senator representing Kaduna central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has said that Kaduna State needs spiritual and political deliverance as it approaches the 2019 general elections.

    Senator Sani who is seeking reelection for the same position he occupies now on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2019 general election called on the good people of Kaduna State not to be carried away with sweet talks to determine who govern or represent them in the forth coming elections.

    Addressing Journalists at the Secretariat of the Kaduna Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) shortly after officially flagging off his campaign at the National leader and former Governor of Kaduna State residence, Alhaji Balarebe Musa, the Senator solicited for the support and prayers from the Journalists.

    “Today 20th November, 2018 I have formerly flagged up my campaign for reelection as Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district and am here to seek for your support and prayers and as a sign of honour and respect, I decided to visit your secretariat to do so.

    “In the last three and half years, I have played the role of voice for the voiceless and my impact was felt accordingly to the best of my ability.

    “As a country, we need Parliamentary institutions of government with people with independent mind to speak on issues that affect her people and the state and the country at large.

    “Time for people to make choices that will define their future and the future of the country. We must make Choice between bondage and freedom, humiliation and dignity, past and the future.

    “APC, PDP are party of the Goliath and PRP party of David which is Move by our conscience. You need a senator who will stand and defend you at all times and the Senate must not be a retirement home for governors.

    “It must not be for stooges, people of Kaduna need deliverance and deliverer who will stand for them in the darkest of the night and brightest of the morning. Kaduna state over the years have witnessed tyranny and threat. Time to be freed, you don’t need a divisive leader who will exploit with the divide and rule system either on religious or ethnic grounds.

    “APC in Kaduna state has failed to serve as beacon of hope who will deliver us to the promise land.

    “Don’t make the mistake of reelecting a man, who takes himself as a demigod, the consequences will be hard for you to bear.

    Respect people who treat you with honour and dignity. Kaduna at the moment is in a state of dictatorship by one person who sees himself as a god.

    “I have decided to join PRP because it is a party that is in tandem with my socialist ideology to free the people of Kaduna central and am here to seek for your support, vote and prayers,” he said.

     

  • Obaseki commences restructuring of state-owned media organisations

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said that his administration has commenced the restructuring of state-owned media outfits to make them more viable and dependable primary sources of credible information.

    Obaseki disclosed this when the Mrs Nefishetu Yakubu-led new executive of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo Council, paid him a courtesy visit on Monday at Government House, Benin City.

    Obaseki said: “Our goal is to re-position Edo as an information hub in this part of the world and we are working to resuscitate the state-owned Nigerian Observer and Edo Broadcasting Service.

    He said the Nigerian Observer would be split into two components – the Printing Press and the Publishing Company – while the Midwest Newspaper Limited would also be restructured.

    He stressed that he does not believe in retrenching workers, but in giving them the opportunity to improve themselves through training and retraining.

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    “The members of staff of these media outfits will be retrained on digital reportage and publishing,” he said.

    The governor promised to support and work with the new executive of the correspondents’ chapel and said, ‘’I believe in the freedom of the press and would support you in the discharge of your duty.

    He also promised to digitize the chapel’s centre at the NUJ premises in Benin City, and donate a bus to them, to make their work easier as the 2019 electioneering period is near.

    In her remark, Yakubu commended the Obaseki-led administration for delivering on the promises made to the people, especially for providing conducive working environment for workers and investing in human capital development.

    The new chapel’s chairman said the visit was to present the new executives to the governor and to assure him of their continuous fair and balanced reportage of all government activities.

    “The Correspondent Chapel of the NUJ is the largest constitution of accredited reporters of various media organisations.

    “So, there should be a strong synergy between your government and the media for effective, credible and balanced reportage of government’s activities,” she said.

     

  • NUJ President vows to sanitize Social Media

    The President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Abdulwaheed Odunsile on Wednesday in Kano said that the union has concluded plans to collaborate with technology companies in controlling the activities of quacks using social media platforms to disseminate false information to the public.

    Odunsile who was in Kano to seek the support of delegates for his re-election bid decried the activities of social media handlers who pose as journalists only to misinform the public and propagate hate speech.

    According to him, “sanitizing the social media has not been easy. We are in talks with owners and proprietors of online publications with a view to bringing them under NUJ umbrella such that they operate in line with international journalistic standards.

    “There is need to differentiate between online news media and the so called social media platforms like facebook.”

    Odunsile, while reeling out his achievements stated that his administration was able to train and re-train over 300 working journalists within and outside the country, adding that he has set machineries in motion to train more if re-elected into office.

    He further stated that already, the NUJ has secured a licence from the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) for the establishment of a TV Station under n already registered company known as Equatorial Communications Limited.

    Read Also: NUJ president assures subscribers

    He said the proposed TV which would be known as FAIRPRESS TV would be situated in Lagos to serve as an independent commercial television station for professional journalists.

    On the welfare of journalists, the NUJ president said, “we are in discussion with the Federal Government on a Special Media Workers’ salary and we are hopeful of a successful end.

    “Just like the weigh-In Allowance fought for by the previous administration, we intend to get state governments and the private sector to buy into the Special Media Workers salary once we reached agreement with the Federal Government.”

  • NUJ presidential aspirant vows to pay journalists’ salaries

    Mr Abiodun Olalere, who is aspiring to be President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ), has promised to force employers to settle salaries, pensions and other entitlements owed newsmen.

    Olalere, who was in Makurdi on Thursday, on a consultation visit to the Benue chapter of the union, said he would also ensure regular payments of salaries to media workers and prosecute defaulting employers.

    The aspirant decried a situation where journalists’ salaries were hardly paid, regretting that some newsmen were owed years of salaries, pensions and gratuity.

    “When journalists are not paid their salaries, it becomes morally difficult to hold them to basic ethics. We shall not allow employers to deny our members their entitlements,” he said.

    Olalere also promised to amend the union’s constitution, saying that the measure had become necessary to address several lingering issues.

    Read Also: NUJ president assures subscribers

    The aspirant, who promised to restore sanity and integrity to the system, promised to run the body for “just one term of 3 years”, if elected

    He expressed dissatisfaction with NUJ’s decision to adopt different guidelines for the conduct of state chapters’ elections in different states, saying that the situation had often bred injustice and crisis.

    The aspirant, who is the immediate past chairman of the Osun State chapter of the union, promised to focus on promoting the core values of journalism, adding that he would run a participatory system that would involve all members.

    In his remarks, Mr Martins Kajo, acting chairman of the union in Benue, said that the chapter would access the presidential aspirants on merit.

    Kajo commended the aspirant’s “brilliant” blueprint toward an effective and efficient NUJ, and called for unity among members to meet set goals.

    The NUJ delegate’s conference is scheduled to hold in Abeokuta in October.

  • Police warns officers against fraternising with politicians

    The Nigeria Police has warned its men and officers that will provide security in the Osun September 22 governorship election to eschew fraternising with politicians or collecting bribe from them.

    Mr Abayomi Shogunle, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) gave the warning in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    He handed down the warning when he visited the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Osun Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    Shogunle said any police officer caught with any unprofessional conduct before, during and after the election would be duly punished.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police said PCRRU was established two years, adding that about 10 police officers had been dismissed, based on complaints.

    He also said the response unit had recovered and returned about N11.1million to victims who lodged complaints, after investigation.

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    Shogunle explained that team was in Osun to meet different stakeholders and sensitise police personnel against unprofessional conduct before, during and after the Osun election.

    “There is going to be a severe punishment for any police officer found guilty of any unprofessional conduct.

    “We are here to ensure free and credible election.

    “The Nigeria Police is not supporting any candidate and our role is to ensure level playing ground for all the candidates,” he said.

    He also warned politicians to desist from inducing voters during the election, saying the intelligent unit of the police would arrest anybody caught distributing money to voters on election day

     

  • NUJ condemns demolition of  Ayefele’s Fresh FM station

    The Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Sunday condemned the demolition of  Yinka Ayefele’s  Music House which houses his  Fresh FM 105.9  radio station.

    A statement jointly signed by the council’s  Chairman, Mr Adewunmi Faniran,  and the Secretary, Mr Bola Ogunlayi, said it was highly disturbed that the building was demolished when the matter was before a  court of competent jurisdiction.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the building belonging to the popular musician was demolished at about  4.30 am on Sunday by the state government for allegedly contravening its town planning laws.

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    The council expressed concern about the fate of the journalists and other media workers in the establishment as well as the loss suffered by the owner of the broadcast outfit.

    “As the fourth estate of the realm  and believer  in the rule of law, the Oyo State NUJ expects  that the court would have been left to take a definite decision on the issue of demolition before it was carried out,” it said.

    The council called on the state government to ensure that “ it comes to the aid of Fresh FM which has been a pride of Ibadan in particular and Oyo State.’’

    It urged the government to relocate the station to another site and ensure the smooth take-off of its operations.

  • Ekiti 2018: NUJ rallies against election violence

    Journalists in Ekiti State on Wednesday marched through the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to warn residents against involvement in electoral violence.

    Acting under the aegis of the Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the media practitioners urged residents to conduct themselves peacefully at the poll and not to plunge the state into chaos before, during and after the poll.

    The march which was tagged: “Public Awareness/Rally on Peaceful Election in Ekiti State,” started at the NUJ Secretariat, Oke Bareke and took the journalists through Isato, Irona, Ijigbo, Old Garage, Okeyinmi, Okesa, Ojumose, Atikankan areas of the city.

    Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and students and officials of the Ado-Ekiti Campus of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) also participated in the rally.

    Participants at the rally carried placards and distributed leaflets denouncing violence, arson, electoral malpractices and other behavior that could cause breakdown of law and order.

    The rally was given protection by officers and men of the Ekiti State Police Command while operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) assisted to prevent traffic gridlock.

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    Some of the placard reads: “We Want Peace in Ekiti,” “Vote, Not Fight, Election No Be War,” “Remember Your Life Is Very Precious,” “Shun Electoral Violence,” “Your Vote Is Your Power, Vote Right,” “Don’t Allow Yourselves To Be Used as Thugs,” among others.

    The marchers reached out to residents in their homes, market women, commercial drivers, commercial motorcycle riders, commuters, Hausa and Igbo traders.

    Traders at Irona and Bisi Markets commended the journalists for the enlightenment campaign which they said was apt and timely as Election Day approaches.

    Speaking at the rally, Ekiti NUJ Chairman, Rotimi Ojomoyela, urged the people of the state not to allow the forthcoming poll to be marred by violence.

    Ojomoyela said the rally was the contribution of the NUJ to a peaceful electoral process urging politicians, voters and other stakeholders to maintain peace for the poll to be successful.

    He explained that the NUJ is a non-partisan body but is concerned about loss of lives which is always trail the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

    Ojomoyela said: “This rally was organized to send a message that election violence does not pay and we want to appeal to our people to say no to violence.

    “Election is a civic duty and should be done peacefully; we urge eligible voters to go to their polling stations on Election Day and vote peacefully for the candidates of their choice.

    “We urge politicians not to use our children and youths as thugs and we also warn our younger generation not to allow themselves to be used to cause mayhem at election.

    “Ekiti is a peaceful state, the NUJ is for peace and we will continue to advocate for peace. All stakeholders in the electoral process must give peace a chance.”

    The NUJ Vice Chairman, Aderonke Samo, urged Ekiti youths not to allow politicians to destroy their future by using them to unleash terror at election period.

    She said: “Our youths must realize that they have their own lives to live and they should not be tools for violence. Who tells you that you too cannot become president, governor or senator in the nearest future.

    “We don’t want anybody’s blood to be used as sacrifice for election, our youths be warned! We are also calling on our parents to rein in their wards, so that they will not be used to burn houses, vehicles and vandalize properties.”

  • ‘Disease Control Centre removes Zamfara from CSM endemic list’

    The National Center for Disease Control has removed Zamfara from its list of states prone to Cerebro Spinal Meningitis ( CSM ) outbreak, says the state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Lawali Liman.

    Liman made the disclosure on Tuesday while briefing a team of journalists on National Democracy Dividend Media Tour organized by the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ).

    He explained that the removal of Zamfara was a result of its sustained surveillance and case management of the disease.

    “Out of the 147 wards, we only have challenges in seven wards at a time when some states of the federation are facing threats in all their wards,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the state government recently renovated and equipped Primary Healthcare Center in each of the 147 wards to bring health care services closer to rural dwellers.

    “Apart from the recent recruitment of 100 medical doctors and over 300 nurses and midwives, the state government is also working towards the establishment of referral hospitals in Talata-Mafara, Gummi and Kaura-Namoda,” he added.

    Liman also explained that the government distributed HIV/AIDS kits to 90 health facilities across the state with a view to checking prevalence and avoiding spread.

    He said that the effort has enabled the state retain its position of having the lowest cases of HIV/AIDS in the country.

    Over 40 journalists drawn from various media houses, led by NUJ National President, Abdulwaheed Odusile,  are on the tour.

    NAN