By Christiana Ekpa
Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Rep Leke Joseph Abejide has donated five (5) floor standing air-conditioners to the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Rep Abejide who was the guest speaker at the first ever Easter Cantata concert organised by the NUJ FCT said as a people who report the daily activities of government and society, the journalists deserves a better atmosphere for their daily activities.
He stressed that the current Secretariat of the FCT NUJ was not condusive for the work they do as the mirror of the society.
He said “the media is very important to everything we do. Both those in government and the private sector should realise the importance of journalists.
Whatever you are doing, if the media is not there to report it, nobody will know it and it will be like dancing alone in your room.
” You deserve better facilities. I will donate five air conditioners to the council and these will be ready by the end of April”.
Abejide who represents Yagba West, and Yagba East Mopamuro Federal Constituency from Kogi State in the House of Representatives also spoke of the need for journalists to be at the forefront of driving national unity and cohesion and not helping to destroy the society.
He stressed the fact that the current government has shown enough capacity in leading the nation to her pride of place in the comity of nations.
He said the House of Representatives will support any initiative that will ensure a better working condition for the Nigerian journalists.
Speaking at the occasion, National President of the NUJ, Alhassan Yahya said the Union was working with other stakeholders to present a bill to the National Assembly that will ensure an enhanced working condition for the journalist.
Yahya solicited the support of Abejide and his colleagues to ensure quick and smooth passage of the bill which he said will bring about a new phase in the development and practice of journalism in the country.
Also appreciating the gesture of the lawmaker the Chairman of Council Comrade Grace Ike described the move as a welcome development noting that the union is in dire need of assistance from philanthropists like him
she said this Social event has earned the union 5 standing Air Conditioners to ameliorate the suffering of members
“ If you notice we have been having series of social activities to bring our people together and the hall can barely take up to 500 members and we have over 3,000 NUJ members in the city center “
“ imagine the crowd on Tuesday, this is the first of its kind and unfortunately it hurts those who do not want the progress of the union to bring our members together to foster unity”
“ they will not tell you the benefit of unity or social events because it’s against their believe ( divide and rule principle which I frown at” she added
Comrade Ike listed the benefits to include “ Boosting Morale and Engagement with members, Strengthening Team Cohesion, Facilitating Networking and Breaking Hierarchies, Encouraging Innovation and Openness among others “ and the NUJ will continue working on this and other innovative projects and strategies until those in power and well meaning Nigerians hear us “ She added
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