The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has decried the state of insecurity in the country, condemned attacks on journalists and urged the federal government to step up efforts to ensure the release of 136 Niger state pupils still in kidnappers’ den.

The Union also wants the federal government to make public the list of those sponsoring criminality in the country as earlier promised by the Attorney General of the Federation adding that more efforts should be put into checking disturbing high rate of killings, kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities that are threatening the peace of the country.

Proffering its suggestion, the NUJ recommends that state governments should be allowed to establish state police to complement the existing security architecture “as a step towards improving the security situation in the country.”

These were part of the resolutions at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held at the NUJ headquarters in Abuja on August 7, 2021. The meeting was attended by all the National Officers including Chairmen and Secretaries of the 36 State Councils of the NUJ.

The NEC communique, signed by the NUJ President Mr. Chris Isiguzo and National Secretary Mr. Leman Shuaib, expressed great concern over the intimidation and attacks on journalists in the country by both agents of the state and freelance actors and called on the federal government to urgently wade in and prevent further occurrences.

On the issue of the salaries and wages of in the media sector, the NEC demanded that efforts should be intensified by the state governments towards the implementation of new salary structure for media workers in Nigeria while also recommending that there should be urgent measures to check non-payment of salaries and youth unemployment.

The NUJ NEC endorsed the position of Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria on the need for a complete review of the digitization process specifically through a comprehensive legal framework since the government White paper of 2012 on digitization did not sufficiently address modern technological developments and its effects on the process.

On food security, the NEC asked the government to summon an urgent conference of stakeholders “to work on strategies to prevent the food crisis in the country.”

After reviewing the poor state of federal roads which currently affects the economy of Nigeria and its citizens, the NEC called on the federal government to make construction of additional rail lines and rehabilitation of more roads for effective transportation a priority.

With regards to industrial unrest the NEC advised the federal government to dialogue with resident doctors to end its ongoing strike which has thrown many Nigerians into hardship and urged it to negotiate more with the Academic Staff Union of Universities to prevent future strike in the universities.

Meanwhile the NEC in session decided that the seventh triennial national delegate conference of the union will take place in Umuahia, Abia state on October 7 this year.