By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central,but in Minna)
The Governor of Niger state, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, has taken a swipe at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), urging the union to embrace change that would evolve and not depending on government goodwill but look inwards on how to generate revenue to run the union's affairs.
Bago also threatened to privatize some state owned media organisations like the Niger State Television (NSTV) in particular so as to make them to stop depending wholly on the state government instead of generating revenue to ease financial burden on government.
Speaking when he granted audience to members of the NUJ Niger State Council, led by the state chairman, Comrade Abu Nmodu, Governor Bago insisted that journalists must embrace the change that would make them not soliciting for any form of support from government.
Governor Bago who had during the electioneering campaign donated two fairly used vehicles to the union and also promised to partner with journalists in relevant areas for a greater Niger state, however disappointed members of the State Executive Council (SEC) of the union by his sudden unfriendly mien towards them.
Notwithstanding being referred to as members of the, ‘Fourth Estate on the Realm’, Governor Bago encouraged the union to key into his administrations’ urban renewal initiatives by planning on how to demolish and restructure the IBB Pen house, along Tunga area of Minna to make it more responsive to meeting the financial needs of the union and its members.
The Governor who said he cannot understand what use the state owned NSTV is, said the television station cannot compete favourably with the likes of AIT and Channels Television in terms of reach and patronage. He expressed preparedness to privatize some of the media organisations.
Chairman of the NUJ, Niger state Council, Comrade Abu Nmodu, had earlier told the Governor that they were at the Government House to congratulate him on his election and assumption of office as governor and to express the union's solidarity with his administration as a follow-up to his earlier promises made to the union members.
Abu who commended Governor Bago for appointing three of its members as Special Advisers and Chief Press Secretary respectively, however, pleaded that some retired colleagues who had served the state meritoriously and risen through the ranks should be appointed Permanent Secretaries in the State Ministries.
The chairman who also drew the Governor’s attention to the deplorable conditions of; Radio Niger/Crystal FM, Newsline Newspapers and the NSTV, said journalists deserved improved remuneration and better condition of service for better performance.
Even when other workers have time off for relaxation and leisure, Abu Nmodu reminded the Governor that journalists work 24/7 to cover various beats at the expense of their lives, comfort and attention of their families, hence they deserve a better welfare package compared to the risks they are exposed to on daily basis. NNL.
