Delta NUJ Expresses Concern Over Herdsmen Killing

The Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed dismay over the unabated killings going on in the country by Fulani herdsmen and called on Federal Government to step up security of lives and properties of citizens.

This was contained in a communiqué signed and issued by Messer Michael Ikeogwu (State Chairman), Churchill Oyowe (State Secretary) after its Council Congress held on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at the Labour House, Asaba.

The communique called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the incessant killings by herdsmen and fast tract the prosecution of arrested killer herdsmen to act as deterrent to others.

The Congress also decried the harrowing experience faced by citizens of Delta State and other Nigerians in the hands of Officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC.

It condemned in the strongest terms continued intimidation, extortion and harassment of citizens on the highways.

It therefore, reminded the Inspector General of Police and Corps Marshall of the FRSC on the urgent need to deepen efforts in their primary responsibility of protecting life and properties and enforcing road safety.

The Congress viewed the continued stay of the N18,000 minimum wage as the perpetration of poverty in the country.

It said that further delay and politicizing of the increment of the minimum wage to N65,500 as requested by labour would be the height of insensitivity by the leadership of the country.

It therefore urged the Federal Government to implement the expected new minimum wage by the end of the third quarter of this year as agreed with labour to alleviate the suffering of workers and Nigerians.

The Congress called on Deltans and residents in the Delta State, and indeed Nigerians to collect their permanent voter cards (PVC) and vote wisely in the 2019 general elections as well as urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sensitize the people through the print, electronic, social media, town criers and fliers and posters on the need for them to collect their PVC’s.

On the 2019 general elections, the Congress called on Nigerians to vote only for candidates disposed to restructuring of the country that will bring about true fiscal federalism and the practice of the rule of law.

It similarly urged Nigerians to ensure that politicians seeking re-election are considered based on their track record of performance and public trust.

The congress praised the initiative of the Nigerian Senate to amend the Nigerian Police Force Act and urged it to pursue the State/Community Policing Bill to its logical conclusion

The Congress thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for putting an end to the Union’s land litigation and stressed the need for the state government to facilitate the completion of the Secretariat project of the union.

The communiqué also commended the Delta State Government on the hosting right of the 2018 Senior Africa Athletics (CAA) Championship slated for early August this year and for also transforming the Stephen Keshi Stadium into a world class sporting facility.

The Congress also commended the Delta State Government for the massive construction work going on simultaneously in different parts of the state, particularly the Asaba water storm and flood control projects and appealed for speedy completion of the projects to reduce the inconveniences faced by residents and road users.

The Congress appreciated the place of diverse views in enhancing development and democratic tenets and advised the Delta State Government to continue to be open to constructive criticism.