The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council on Wednesday, withdrew all her members covering the State House of Assembly with immediate effect.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the State Congress of the union held at its secretariat, which was jointly signed by the State Council Chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, State Council Secretary, Comrade Dominic Akpan, Comrade Iniobong Ekponta, Chairman of Communique Drafting Committee, Comrade Dianime Uko, Secretary Drafting Committee and Comrade Emem Okon.
The communique noted that the order was as a result of the appointment of a non-journalist, Mr Nkereuwem Udom, as the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Udeme Otong.
According to the communique, the union warned that any member that defaults the directive of the congress will face servere sanctions.
The communique in parts, “Congress directed all journalists covering the activities of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, including the Press Corps to withdraw their services with immediate effect over the appointment of a non-journalist as the Press Secretary (Head of Press Corps) by the Speaker, Mr Udeme Otong.
“Congress frowned at this development and consequently warned that any defaulting member of the Union shall face severe sanctions,” communique stated.
The communique also called on the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency to take immediate action against indiscriminate dumping of refuse along Atiku Abubakar Way, which has blocked drainage causing flooding in the area.
The union in the communique called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to henceforth enforce the law, arrest and prosecute drivers, who drive against traffic (wrong way drive) as the ugly development always cause road crashes.
“Congress called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Motor Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police and other authorities involved in traffic management to arrest and prosecute motorists who drive against the traffic as the ugly development has often resulted in accidents and injuries.
“Congress also noted that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, has shortchanged oil producing communities in Akwa Ibom State by not remitting the funds generated from fines from gas flaring in the affected communities to them directly, as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. Congress, therefore, urged NUPRC to henceforth start paying gas flaring fines to the affected communities.”
The communique further called on the Nigeria Police Force Akwa Ibom Command and other security agencies in the state to step up their surveillance and come up with measures to arrest the increasing cases of phone theft in Uyo metropolis.
