The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Abia State Council lamented that such high costs of Premium Motor Spirit have jacked up the cost of transportation and commodities ridiculously.
The Union further lamented that the event negatively impacted the government’s services in the state.
It therefore appealed to the Abia State Government to declare reduction of working days for civil servants, who, it said reportedly spend large proportion of their salaries on transport.
This is even as the call was made at the NUJ State Secretariat in Umuahia during the Council’s monthly congress.
Abia State Council of NUJ in a seven-point statement signed by Victor Ndukwe, Chairman and Ikechuckwu Onuegbu, Secretary said reduction in working hours as have been done in some other states, will ameliorate the effects the harsh economy has on civil servants.
The Congress commended the government for restoring free flow of traffic at Isi Gate, Umuahia, and called on relevant authorities to closely monitor activities of some Taskforce members reportedly extorting tricycle operators.
“The Congress observed that retirees from the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, BCA and a few other parastatals are yet to be paid their pension for almost one year even after been verified, appealed, Governor Alex Otti, to cause the immediate clearance of the said pensions arrears to enable the retirees to heave a sigh of relief in these austere time,” the communiqué said.
They also called on the pensioners in the state under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, to speak with one voice instead of factionalising their leadership.
The Abia NUJ members also called on the state government to ensure that the Modular Refinery project is completed while charging the new Abia State Commissioner of Police, Isa Danladi, to sustain the improved security situation in the state.
 Abia State Council lamented that such high costs of Premium Motor Spirit have jacked up the cost of transportation and commodities ridiculously.){kind=link}