Kogi State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh has called for concerted efforts to deepen Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking at the grand finale of NUJ Press Week of the state council in Lokoja on Saturday, Momohjimoh said as a body of knowledge, journalists in the state decided to focus on electoral reforms and the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
He noted that as a union, the state council believes that 2023 elections is very important to the peace and progress of the country.
Comrade Momohjimoh stated that the recent passage of the electoral bill in the two chambers of the National Assembly, despite the contentious clause on electronic transmission of result, is an antidote to various problems associated with elections in Nigeria.
He urged Kogi state government to pay off the entitlements of some of its deceased members, adding that the payment of the deceased Journalists’ entitlement would help alleviate the hardship their death have on their families.
According to him, in the last one year, the council lost three of its members, two of them were in the service of the government before their demise.
While applauding Governor Yahaya Bello for ensuring enhanced security in the state, the NUJ chairman appealed to the state government to revisit and fulfil promises made to the council.
“Not even the worst critic of this government will turn his back on the feat achieved by the Governor in the area of providing security for the populace.
“As His Excellency Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello is fulfiling his electoral promises in other areas, I wish to call his attention to the promises made to the union that are yet to be attended to.
“Hus Excellency may wish to recall his promise to renovate the Lugard building at the Press Centre and also to provide the union with a bus. These promises were made five years ago and we look forward to receiving the bus and getting the colonial building renovated,” he said.
In his address, the national president of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Chris Isuguzo, berated the members of the 9th National Assembly, describing their voting against electronic transmission of results as a coup against democracy.
Isiguzo demanded for a reversal of the lawmakers’ decision against electronic voting and transmission of results in the next general election, stressing that Nigeria need a credible electoral act that would conform to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
While commending the Kogi NUJ for the choice of topic, the President of NUJ said the country’s electoral process must be made free, fair and transparent, noting that the electoral umpire would need the support of all Nigerians to achieve a more credible electoral process as the country cannot continue to have an electoral process riddled with complains.
Isiguzo urged the state government to redeem its promises to the NUJ, noting that it is the responsibility of government to ensure the comfort of journalists as the fourth estate of the realm.
He urged the state to take cue from other states, pointing out that the Press Centre is a public facility and stressed the need to give the NUJ press centre, a befitting facelift, noting that the state of the premises, is nothing to write home about.
