N17m Delta NUJ Project Money Lying Fallow Over Land Ownership Dispute

…As Council appeals to Governor Okowa To Intervene

The N17 million released by Delta State Government to complete the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Secretariat at Asaba, the state capital is lying fallow following the litigation trailing the ownership of the land where the building is being erected.

The land which was donated to the NUJ by past administration have been a subject of controversy with a court order restraining NUJ from further development of the said land.

BigPen Online gathered that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, on assumption of office after several appeal had released the sum of N17million for the completion of the project but since the money was released the union have not been able to commence reconstruction at the project site following the court order.

Sources disclosed that several appeal to the state government which had reportedly agreed to compensate the land owner and settle the matter out of court have not yielded fruit.

Worried by the development, the State Executive Council, SEC of the NUJ had at its recent meeting moved a motion calling on Governor Okowa to intervene on the matter.

Chairman of the Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, and Assistant Secrrtary, Comrade Celestine Afokobah, in a communique arising from the meeting made available to BigPen Online on Sunday, appealed to Governor Okowa, to expedite action on the litigation surrounding the ownership of the land.

The council said that the money released by the governor was depleting with bank charges and therefore appealed for urgent intervention on the matter.

The council said, “This appeal became necessary as the N17 million (seventeen million naira) given to the union to complete the project is lying fallow and fast depleting owing to bank charges”.

Meanwhile, the communique also called on various political parties contesting the 2019 general elections to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the state council of the NUJ, on the up-coming debate for candidates that are seeking elective positions.

It also asked the various political parties in the state to go about their electioneering campaigns without rancour, bickering and acrimony during the exercise , urging them to engage in issue-based campaigns.

The Delta NUJ however called on youths not to allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction and political thugs during the forthcoming general elections.

The communique also said the press (media) should not be gagged by either politicians, security agents or interest groups.

“SEC in session also condemned the spate of ritual killings across the state and called on security agents to discharge their duties without fear or favour, and serve justice on any culprit.

“The SEC meeting, which was attended by the chairmen and secretaries of the 16 chapels in the state, wishes the government and good people of the state  a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year in advance”