by crossriverwatch admin
The Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has condemned in strong terms, the sealing of the premises of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Calabar, by officials of the state Internal Revenue Service.
The NUJ gave the condemnation in a communiqué issued at the end of its monthly congress held on Wednesday at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Center, Calabar.
The nine-point communiqué signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the union, Conrade Ndoma Akpet and Comrade Nsa Gill, respectively, reads in part: “The Congress expressed displeasure at the manner in which the premises of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA 9 Calabar was sealed on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 by the officials of the State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on account of non-remittance of PAYEE Tax, which the NTA Headquarters already had committed itself to IRS authorities.
“Council also deliberated on the dilapidated and uninhabitable state of the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation even when contract has been awarded by the government for its renovation.
“The congress particularly frowned at the slow pace of work by the contractor and set up a three-man committee to look into the state of affairs in the Newspaper Corporation as it concerns the renovation contract and report back to congress.”
The communiqué also touched on some issues of national interest thus: “That the Federal Government should exert more effort on finding lasting solution that will lead to the release of the Chibok Girls and other abducted persons by the terrorist Boko Haram sect.
“The council frowned at the state of Federal Roads in the South-South Geopolitical zone, especially the Calabar/Itu, Calabar/Ikom and Calabar/Ikang Roads, and called on the Federal Government to immediately take aggressive measures to rehabilitate the roads.
“Congress also called on politicians in the country to be civil and exhibit great amount of decorum as the 2015 election draws closer, adding that the current spate of politically motivated killings if unchecked will lead the country to a cul-de-sac.
“That the Muslim world is currently observing Ramadan fast, a period of love, peace and forgiveness and therefore called on members of the Boko Haram sect to release all those they have abducted in the spirit of Ramadan.
“Congress also frowned at the ongoing general strike by medical doctors in the country where several lives are
being lost and put at risk on daily basis and therefore called on the Federal Government to take necessary harmonious actions to end the strike.
“Members also frowned at the situation where patients are required to pay deposits before they are attended to in the Government hospitals and other medical facilities.
“Members took a cursory look at the activities of the security agencies in the country especially as regards combating Boko Haram insurgency and appreciated the efforts of the agencies, noting that more still needs to be done in order to achieve lasting peace and stability in the country.”
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