COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE CONGRESS OF THE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), BAYELSA STATE COUNCIL HELD ON THE 27TH OF JULY, 2023 AT THE NUJ, PRESS CENTRE, AZIKORO ROAD, EKEKI, YENAGOA

The meeting discussed extensively on sundry issues and resolved as follows:

1. Congress lauds Governor Douye Diri’s led Prosperity administration for equipping the Ernest Ikoli Media Complex for the State Owned Media outfits; Radio Bayelsa, the Niger Delta Television (NDTV) and the Newspaper Corporation with the state of the Art equipments.
2. Congress also commend the State Chief Executive for lifting embargo on employment and advised those in charged with the responsibility of carrying out the employment exercise not to politicise the process.
3. Congress appreciates the efforts of the Prosperity Administration in inaugurating Buses and Taxi Cabs to ease transportation and urged the Ministry of Transport to ensure that the vehicles hit the roads without delay.
4. As the Bayelsa State Governorship Election draws closer, congress called on politicians to encourage peaceful campaigns and electioneering process to allow the votes of the masses count and urged practicing journalists to remain professional by adhering strictly to the ethics of the profession during the election as well as observing safety measures on the field.
5. Congress frowns at the demand from some indigenes of Yenagoa Local Government Area to the Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control to pay compensation for the clearing of drainages and canals in their communities especially in the State capital. Accordingly, congress urged community leaders and other Stakeholders to persuade their youths to stop forthwith as the benefits is directed to the people.
6. Congress calls on residence in the state to also clean their drainages to allow free flow of Water as the rains increases rather than waiting for government intervention.
7. Congress acknowledge the developmental strides of the state Government and draw the attention of government to some dilapidated internal roads in the state capital especially, Okaka,Samphino, Saptex, Capt. Ayeni,Erepa, amongst others.
8. Congress calls on Government at all levels and other interventionists agencies to commence the distilling of tributaries and creek’s in Yenagoa and other local government areas for easy flow of water to mitigate flooding.
9. Congress frowns at the continues politicking with the rehabilitation of failed portions of the Port Harcourt- Mbiama axis of the East West Road already threatened by the flood.
10. Congress calls on Federal, State and Local Government to commence a welfare scheme to cater for workers and provide palliatives as the fuel subsidy palava ‘bits’ hard.
11. Congress observed that despite the proactive measures taken by government to remove mentally deranged persons on the roads in Bayelsa State they have resufaced again and urged the State Government to build a rehabilitation home for those with mental issues.
12. Congress frowns at the payment of estimated light bills by residents in the State to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) without commensurate power supply and called on the State Ministry of Power to intervene and work modalities for steady power supply.
13. Congress also called on the State Government to facilitate the construction of an independent power plant for residents in the state and export same to neighbouring States in line with the recent Federal Government Electricity law of 2023.
14. Congress calls on the newly appointed Council Chairmen to appoint qualified journalists from their Local Government Area’s as Press Secretaries and Media Managers.
15. To promote food security in the state Congress urges government to revamp the agricultural sector with special attention to the Ebedebiri Cassava Farm, the Peremabiri Rice Farm, School to land farms, the Igbogene Fish farm and others.
16. Congress calls on Government at all levels to encourage small and medium scale enterprises to boost the economy.
17. Congress encourage Practicing journalists to embark on unbaised investigative journalism and set agenda for all round development.
18. Congress calls on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to intervene and restore lasting peace in Nembe Local Government Area as well as other security flash points across the State.

Signed:

Comr. Samuel Numonengi
Chairman, NUJ Bayelsa State Council.

Comr. Ogio Ipigansi
Secretary, NUJ, Bayelsa State.

Comr. Inebaraton, Preye
Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee.

Ahamuefula Henry
Secretary, Communique Drafting Committee.