GOVERNOR Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State is set to commission the remodeled state secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Jos. The project he totally overhauled for journalists to have a conducive working environment for enhanced and effective reportage with 31 other projects across the state.
He has also concluded plans for President Muhammadu Buhari to commission the major twelve (12) signature projects out of the 32 projects which among whom are the British/America Junction Inter-change Bridge (Overhead bridge), Jos High Court Complex and Multi-door Court House and other projects across the state before the end of his tenure.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Dan Manjang, while on an inspection tour to NUJ Secretariat Monday, disclosed that the governor has earmarked this project for commissioning before the end of the life of his administration, hence the need for us to ensure that things are put in place.
He said, “People who know how this facility was will now know that there is a facelift. So, the entire ministry is here as an advanced party to see things before His Excellency will come. It is long overdue. This project would have been commissioned long before now, but because His Excellency included the landscaping and furnishing as requested by NUJ Council when he visited the project.
“The structure is still good to go, we have rescued it and we are happy. I want to assure the NUJ that the furnishing is as good as done because the money for the furnishing has been released and in the next two days, this furnishing is going to be done according to the specification that was sent by the Council. We have overcome that and in two days, you will see a different thing”, Manjang highlighted.
The commissioner, however, rated journalists on the Plateau high for adequate covering of this administration’s activities. He said “you have paid your dues positively towards the state government and His Excellency is very happy about it. We pray that his successor will be able to do more for journalists.
“I am an advocate of better pay for journalists and insurance coverage for journalists to make them comfortable, otherwise, they will have to look for other means and cut corners to survive or meet their constitutional needs”, he enthused.
The Government spokesman, therefore, called on journalists at all levels to standardise the practice of journalism like other professions because quackery has taken the order of the day, hence the need for journalists to ensure that one must undergo a requisite training in journalism before he or she would practice.
Responding, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Paul Jatau, who could not hide his joy, thanked the Executive Governor for bringing back the life of NUJ Secretariat and called on members to reciprocate this gesture by making the new secretariat lively.
