NUJ Bars Journalists from Covering A’Ibom State House of  Assembly

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Chapter has withdrawn the services of its members from the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly with immediate effect over the appointment of a non-journalist as Press Secretary by the Speaker, Mr Udeme Otong.

This was contained in a communique released at the end  its June Congress in Uyo yesterday and endorsed by the state chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, Secretary, Comrade Domnic Akpan and Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee, Comrade Iniobong Ekponta.

According to the communique, “congress frowned at this development and consequently warned  that any defaulting member of the Union shall face severe sanctions.” 

The congress also noted the persistent flooding of some major roads in Uyo occasioned by indiscriminate dumping of waste, resulting in a complete blockage of the drain and called on the State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency to take immediate action to check the situation.

The communique also accused the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission(NUPRC), of shortchanging oil producing communities in the state by not remitting funds  generated from fines from gas flaring to them directly as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and urged NUPRC to redress the situation.

It also called on security agencies to step up their surveillance and come up with measures to arrest the increasing cases of phone theft in Uyo capital city.

The Union also called on the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) and the Motor Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police and other authorities involved in traffic management to arrest and prosecute motorists who drive against the traffic as the ugly development has often resulted in accidents and injuries.