By Peoples’ Guide Reporters
Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON Ebonyi State chapter, Hon. Barr Chinedu Uburu has promised that ALGON in State shall partner with Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ to showcase the laudable projects of the State Governor and Council chairmen in all the LGAs in the State. Uburu who doubles as the Executive Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government, gave the assurance when the leadership of NUJ in Ebonyi State paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
The ALGON Boss commended the leadership of the NUJ in ensuring professionalism in journalism practice in the state, stressing that with such partnership, the achievements of Council Chairmen in the State would be given media visibility.
Shedding light on reasons for the recent verification of Local Government Workers in the State and report on nonpayment of some staff who failed to get verified, Barr Uburu noted that the exercise was for the good interest of workers and the government. He expressed confidence in journalists in the state, saying that they have the skills to report the truth and to project the works of the government in a healthy way and assured of his willingness to work with genuine media professionals to further showcase their activities, adding that no council chairmen in the State is executing project that is less than five hundred million naira in their respect LGAs.
“The verification exercise was not targeted at anyone, and workers don’t even know that the council chairmen are trying to help them. Last year, the President signed the minimum wage into law, and if we are to pay, with the current number of staff, we can’t even pay salaries.
“These are the reasons we called for the verification. currently, there’s no local government chairman in Ebonyi state that is doing a project of less than 500 million, probably, before the month runs out, I will take you out for project inspection.
“And I agree with the NUJ chairman that the best way to showcase your work is through the media. People now believe in social media, but I believe that with the help of NUJ, we can be able to show the right information about Ebonyi State to the world.”. He said.
Earlier in his remarks, the NUJ Chairman, Ebonyi state council, Comrade Samson Nwafor Congratulated Barr Uburu on his emergence as the State ALGON Chairman and assured of their readiness towards sustaining development and healthy partnership between journalists and government in the State
Comrade Nwafor, while appraising the functions of the media and council chairmen as serving the interest of the masses in the state, noted that it was necessary that adequate information is made available to the journalists in order to enhance their jobs of enlightenment with the right message.
“Sometimes, people say that NUJ, we are not doing our jobs, that we are now supporting the government, but these are acts of ignorance because the stage we are in our practice is purely developmental.
“We can advise the government where they are not doing it well, but the issue of attacking the government all the time is no more a fashion; journalism is no longer that way because we are part of the society, and if we set fire in the state, it’s either we run out of the state or be a victim.
“Therefore, we are going to work with the government, support it and advise when necessary to ensure that Ebonyi progresses, as a state that we have a visionary governor who has taken it upon himself to ensure that every needs of the people are met, it’s our job to keep it safe”. Nwafor said.
He assured that the council will continue to support ALGON in its drive towards sustainable development in Ebonyi State.