 Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has appealed to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike){kind=link}
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has appealed to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for urgent intervention to revamp the deteriorating infrastructure at its Council Secretariat in Utako, Abuja.
This passionate plea was made during the union’s second Congress held on Saturday in the capital city.
During the gathering, delegates voiced deep concerns about the current condition of the Secretariat, describing it as unsuitable for a professional organization representing journalists operating in the heart of the nation.
The Council also used the platform to urge the Minister to support the completion of the long-stalled NUJ Pentagon project—a proposed iconic structure intended to serve as a central hub for journalism in Abuja.
“The current state of our secretariat is appalling. We are earnestly appealing to the Honourable Minister to undertake a facility tour and see for himself the infrastructural decay we contend with. We believe that under his leadership, the Secretariat and Pentagon project can finally be transformed into a lasting legacy,”
This was the resolution adopted at the end of the Congress.
Beyond infrastructure issues, the FCT NUJ raised alarms over several socio-economic challenges affecting Abuja residents and Nigerians across the country.
One of the major concerns was the persistent electricity outages in the FCT, which the union attributed to operational lapses within the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). It noted that the erratic power supply is undermining productivity and diminishing the quality of life for residents.
In the same vein, the union criticized the escalating costs of telecommunications and internet services, labeling them as an increasing financial strain on the average citizen. It called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to scrutinize service providers’ billing structures and implement consumer-friendly regulations.
Adding to the list of urgent national issues, the NUJ expressed deep worry over the spike in maternal mortality rates, attributing the trend to the worsening economic climate and rising inflation.
In response, the union urged the Federal Government to provide free maternal healthcare, encompassing pre-natal, ante-natal, and post-natal services. This, it said, would ease the burden on expectant mothers and help curb avoidable maternal deaths.
Reaffirming its mission, the FCT NUJ pledged to continue championing the interests of journalists and the wider public, while engaging government agencies and stakeholders to find sustainable solutions to the nation’s pressing problems.