Veteran journalists’ll continue to enjoy all NUJ welfare programmes, says Amos Etuk

Veteran journalists’ll continue to enjoy all NUJ welfare programmes, says Amos Etuk

… congratulates Ebong over appointment as PS to AKHA Speaker

Itoro Bassey, Uyo

Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk, has reassured veteran journalists that they would not be left out in all the welfare programmes of the Union now and in future.

Comrade Etuk said this on Wednesday when he received on courtesy call, members of the League of Veteran Journalists led by the State Chairman, Obong (Hon) Chris Udofia, at the NUJ Press Centre, Uyo.

Etuk said the meeting synergized on the promise he made during his campaign to become State Chairman of NUJ during which he pledged to ensure good working relationships with the veterans, stakeholders and the young professionals.

The chairman, who told his visitors that the NUJ holds both serving and veteran journalists in high esteem because of the crucial roles they play in the development of the society, said “we (journalists) must begin to look at our elders as people we must show more love at every point in time”.

He intimated the veterans about the activities of the State Council of the Union, especially the monthly congresses, and thanked them for their support for the programmes and activities of the State Council.

Etuk emphasized that the union would remain committed to improving the ethical standard of news reportage in the state, adding that under the current dispensation in the Union, veterans would be contacted regularly on happenings in the NUJ, and provided with the necessary atmosphere to play their roles.

He announced that the union would make provision for an office space at the NUJ Press Centre to accommodate the League of Veterans to enhance their operational activities.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the League of Veterans, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Obong Chris Udofia, said the visit was to thank the State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Amos Etuk, for his passion for the development of journalism practice and the well being of all journalists working in the state, especially the veterans.

The 79-year old journalist, who noted that he would be two years in office as Chairman of the League of Veterans on 18th August, said his colleagues were elated with the special consideration the NUJ leadership had been extending to the senior journalists in all its emerging welfare programmes for reporters in the state.

While he made a brief chronological account of his life as a journalist, news editor with the Nigerian Chronicle, newspaper publisher and local government chairman to the admiration of his hosts, Udofia urged journalists to have an alternative means of income which would make it easy for them to finance their passion.

Udofia stressed the need for media practitioners to unite and remain focused on fair and objective reporting for credibility as watchdogs of the society, even as they operate under the ethics of the journalism profession by maintaining the legacies left by the founding fathers of the profession.

Other members of the League of Veteran Journalists who attended the meeting were the secretary, Anietie Idok; Obiota Ekanem, Okokon Robert, Ekong Ansa and Amah T. Amah.

Meanwhile, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, has congratulated Comrade Emmanuel Ebong on his appointment as the press secretary to Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, Speaker of the state house of assembly, noting that his visit to the NUJ was a sign of good things to come.

Etuk, who described the appointment as well-deserved, expressed optimism that Ebong would bring his wealth of experience and professionalism to bear in his new assignment.

The Chairman expressed the Union’s appreciation to the Assembly Speaker, Udeme Otong, for deeming it fit and worthy to appoint a core journalist to the position of press secretary.

Earlier in his remark, the new press secretary, Emmanuel Ebong, who was also on a courtesy visit to the NUJ leadership, said he was happy with the solidarity and support that followed the announcement of his appointment.

Comrade Ebong expressed his readiness to collaborate with members of the union in the course of his assignment, and commended journalists for projecting Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in good light.

Ebong noted that, as a unionist, he would always defend the interests of members of the assembly press corps, just as he enjoined his colleagues to support the present 8th Assembly in its bid to achieve its aims.

The meeting also featured a group photograph session with members of the League of Veterans that were present, the Speaker’s press secretary and the NUJ EXCO members.