From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mohammed Garba has said the Union will hold the Northern State Governor Forum (NSGF) for the death and travail of his members in the comatose New Nigerian Newspaper Company. He stated this when he paid condolence visit to the family of the late Associate Editor, New Nigerian Weekly, the late Akpus John.
According to Comrade Garba, the problem of New Nigerian Newspaper has lingered for too long and the NSGF showed non-challant attitude to the issue.
“Because of the lukewarm attitude of the Forum, many of our members has been incapacitated and some of them turned into glorified beggars, looking for the goodwill of the people to feed themselves and their families.
“Some of these members like our late brother suffered some health problems and it is the burden of families and friends to cater for them. It is time for the Northern Governors’ Forum to take a decisive step on New Nigerian, in order to alleviate the sufferings of the staff and their families,” he said.
Comrade Garba added that the continued lock-up of the New Nigerian is a shame to the region, especially from negative reports that NUJ receives on daily basis about death of staff and those who suffer health hazard at the point of their duty post.
Speaking to the widow of the late Akpus John, Mrs. Rakiya John, Comrade Garba said the wife should take solace in the fact that her late husband was a professional to the core, who practiced journalism according to the rules and ethics.
He prayed for God to grant the soul of the departed repose and the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
