From Audu Joe, Lokoja
Ahead of 2023 general elections in Nigeria, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo has challenged the electoral umpire and political stakeholders to do all within their capabilities to ensure a credible and better election in 2023.
Speaking on Saturday at the grand finale of the Kogi State council of the NUJ Press Week, Isiguzo, said a better electoral process would go a long way to improve the international image of the country.
While commending the Kogi NUJ for its choice of topic on Electoral Act, the President of NUJ, said the country’s electoral process must be made free, fair and transparent, noting that the electoral umpire, would need the support of all Nigerians to achieve a more credible electoral process.
He said the country cannot continue to have an electoral process riddled with complaints.
Isiguzo urged the state government, to without delay, make good its promises to the NUJ, noting that it is the responsibility of government to ensure the comfort of journalists.
As the fourth estate of the realm, the president stressed the need to give the NUJ press centre, a befitting facelift, saying that the look of the premises, is nothing to write home about.
He urged the state to take cue from other states, pointing out that the Press Centre is a public facility.
Earlier, the Kogi State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Momohjimoh Adeiza, in his welcome address urged the state government to pay off the entitlements of some of its deceased members.
Comrade Adeiza noted the payment of the deceased Journalists entitlements would help alleviate the hardship their death have on their families.
According to him, in the last one year, the council lost three of its members, two of them were in the service of the government before their demise.
He also appealed to the government to take special steps to aid the smooth running of state-owned media, renovate the press centre and provide the union with a bus.
Adeiza applauded the laudable effort of the government in the area of infrastructures.
The Chairman appreciated the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, invited guests, and Kogi State NUJ members for their cooperation.