By Friday Idachaba.
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has rejected Nigeria Governors’ Forum position on the New Minimum Wage that they would only pay according to the financial standing of their respective States.
The NUJ disclosed this in a communique signed by Shuaibu Usman Leman, National Secretary of the Union and issued to newsmen at the end of the National Executive Council Meeting in Reverton Hotel on Friday in Lokoja.
The Union what is the state governors to implement the new minimum wage on the Federal Government’s template as agreed upon with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The NEC, according to the communique, also reject in its entirety the step by the Federal Government to regulate social media operators in the country.
It called on the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed not to succumb to the temptation of restricting the social media as the attempt could easily lead to “gagging the media.”
The NUJ also appealed to the Federal Government, INEC, security agencies and political gladiators to ensure hitch-free conduct, before during and after the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections.
The NEC in session reiterated is call on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on deplorable Federal roads across the country and thanked Kogi State Government for hosting the NEC meeting in Lokoja.
The NUJ said it had set up a five-man committee to reconcile the two factions in the leadership crisis rocking the national secretariat of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
The Union said it had reviewed the current situation in the Association and come up with a resolution to set up the committee to critically look into the matter and resolve the impasse.
The NEC also suspended indefinitely, former President of NUJ, Waheed Odusile and the Vice President, Zone C, Petros Obi; as well as National Vice-chairman, Zone C, of ÑAWOJ, Chibota Edozie and Ngozi Agbo for persistent anti union activities.
The NEC in session approved the employment of two additional assistant national secretary in addition to the offering of contractor appointments to mister Bamidele Gbemiga who retired as a Senior Assistant National Secretary.
According to the communique, the NEC is in session also approved the use of centralised NUJ attendance register for state councils to check sharp practices in the compilation of membership lists in states.
The NUJ frowned at the activities of some Media influencers who indiscriminately masquerade as professional journalists and members of the Union to desist from such acts or be reported to the police for prosecution.
(NAN)
