The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ has urged President Bola Tinubu and his economic team to expedite action in reversing the trend of hunger in the country by addressing the rising cost of food items and other consumables.
Rising from the Union’s National Executive Council meeting at its Secretariat in Abuja, the union in a communique signed by the Assistant Secretary, Akorede Opeyemi, also appealed to the government to put drastic measures to bring down the cost of cement in the country.
According to the union, the present hikes in cement are largely artificial, bearing in mind that over 70 percent of raw materials for cement are locally sourced.
The NUJ NEC meeting which was presided over by the President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, also called on the Federal Government to expedite action to ensure that the nation’s refineries are in good working condition in order to reduce the negative impact of importation of petroleum products on the naira and the economy.
The union decried the poor state of the Nigerian roads, describing it as a security risk and a major cause of the economic downturn in the country, calling for their swift rehabilitation or reconstruction.
During the meeting, the NEC also approved the appointment of Achike Chude as the new National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, after the retirement of the former National Secretary
They further advocated that “Stringent measures should be taken to curtail the abuse of press stickers by non members of the NUJ.
“NEC Condemns the attack on journalists in Edo State during the APC primaries and backs the ultimatum given by the Edo State Council for the replacement of equipment destroyed, payment of medical bills and unreserved apology to the Union.” Parts of the communique read.
The NUJ NEC commended Ebonyi State Government for providing utility bus for the State Council and approval for the renovation of NUJ Secretariat.