NUJ demands timely actions on new minimum wage for Workers, Teachers’ recruitment in Ondo

…..Cautions Stakeholders on Vote Trading, fairplay ahead of Nov 16 Ondo guber poll.

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MONTHLY CONGRESS OF THE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS, ONDO STATE COUNCIL, HELD ON THURSDAY, 31ST OF OCTOBER, 2024, AT THE NUJ PRESS CENTRE, ALAGBAKA, AKURE

The Congress was presided over by the Chairman of the Union, Prince Leke Adegbite, and attended by members across all chapels of the union.

It deliberated on issues raging from politics, economic, education, security to welfare of members among others and resolved as follows;

1. That The Congress called on the Ondo State Government to fast-track negotiations with the organized labour and ensure timely implementation of N73,000 new minimum wage for its workers as promised by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship, and to as well put in place some Palliative measures in the state particularly selling of food items at a subsidized rate to the public.
2. That the Congress pleaded with the Ondo State Minimum Wage Technical Committee headed by the Head of Service to consider and protect the interest of the Staff members of the Owena Press Limited (The Hope newspaper) by coming up with better salary scale for them that will reflect the current economic reality, and as well appealed to the State Government to increase the monthly allocation to the media outfit to enable the new Managing Director, Mr Kayode Fasua to carry out various innovations at the organization.
3. That the Congress commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for paying the 2024 Leave Bonus to the State Workers in record time and timely promotion of deserving workers in which some NUJ members benefitted.
4. While our Union also expresses satisfaction with Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration in sustaining Free Shuttle Buses for students in the  State, we also tasked the State Government to conclude without further delay the process of recruiting teachers for public Primary and Secondary schools in the state, as inadequate number of teachers is really crippling the sector.
5. That the Congress analyzed the political situation in Ondo state ahead of the November 16, 2024 governorship election especially since the flag-off of campaigns by different political parties, and urges the candidates and their supporters to sustain the current peaceful political activities before, during and after the election.
6. That the Congress equally charged political parties and their candidates to make their campaigns more issue-based to enable the electorate to make informed decisions, while also cautioning voters not to mortgage their future and that of their children by trading their votes for money during the November 16 election.
7. That while expressing satisfaction with level of preparations by various key stakeholders, especially the INEC and Security agencies, the NUJ Congress called on the stakeholders to provide level play field for candidates before and during the governorship election, for a credible and acceptable poll.
8. That while advising INEC to be very strict and work with the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in accrediting journalists for the election to prevent fake practitioners from causing unrest in the state through unprofessional reports, the Congress encourages members of the pen profession to continue to uphold the ethics of journalism especially the Fact-Checking mechanism in doing their jobs.
9. That Ondo NUJ Congress applauded the Ondo State Ministry of Infrastructure under the Special Adviser to Mr Governor, Pastor Joseph Ayo Babalola, for the recent assistance rendered to the union, particularly the Press Centre road and Sports Arena.

COMMUNIQUÉ DRAFTING COMMITTEE;

1. Oluwatosin Ighoteguano – FRCN Positive FM chapel
2. Precious Oluwole – Federated Chapel
3. Babatunde Ayedoju – Owena Press Chapel.

E-signed
Olaoluwa Meshack
State Secretary.