…wants Gov, royal fathers’ intervention

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has expressed deep concern over high cost of goods and services in the State.

The Council bemoaned the activities of middlemen and traders’ union in the soaring cost of goods and services across the State, particularly Akure, the State capital, saying the development is becoming unbearable compared to other neighbouring States.

This, among others, were part of the communique issued at the end of the monthly Congress of the union held on Thursday at the Press Centre, Pen Crescent, Alagbaka, Akure.

The Congress which was well attended by members of the union across all chapels and presided over by the State Chairman, Prince Leke Adegbite, particularly called on the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Traditional Rulers to set up a Taskforce that will ensure price control on essential goods and services.

The Congress also expressed dissatisfaction with poor performance of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) in the state, challenging the government’s agency to live up to the masses’ expectations.

Equally, the Congress noted with emphasis the upcoming November 2024 gubernatorial election in the state and praised the maturity displayed so far by political gladiators, but enjoined them to play the game according to the rules as party primaries hold next month, stressing that no human blood is worth sacrificing for sake of any election.

Activities of quackery in journalism also came under scrutiny and the Congress advised quacks/unaccredited Journalists to stay away from Ondo State, especially during the forthcoming governorship primaries in April and the subsequent election on November 16, warning that the Ondo NUJ Taskforce Against Fake Journalists is still intact, and anyone caught in the act will be dealt with accordingly by authorities.

The Congress expressed happiness over various training opportunities for journalists ahead of the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election, urging qualified members to always apply for such trainings to boost their professional capacity.

The Congress which also hailed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for ordering the recruitment of more Health Workers, also drew the attention of the State Government to poor service delivery at the UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure Annex, and called for urgent intervention to enable it meet the health needs of the people.

Efforts to employ 2000 new teachers by the State Government were equally commended, just as the Congress urged government to give priority to primary and secondary in the rural areas in the recruitment exercise, particularly in the riverine area of the state.