Welcome to 2024
We thank the Almighty God for ushering us unto the ominous threshold of another exciting year, brimming with undaunting hope and promise.
No doubt, 2023 was an enthralling year in so many regards. Last year indeed recorded indelible, unforgettable moments, incidents and events that remarkably shaped the courses and trends of our existence.
As overseers in the omnibus Fourth Estate of the Realm, we are dutifully confronted with insatiable societal expectations to watch over public governance and hold people in government accountable to their mandators.
As the media, we are belaboured to interrogate and report the causes and effects of events and developments for good or bad.
It is expected that as the fourth operational wing of government, especially in a democracy, definite and deliberate fiscal provision should be infused into the sector to insulate its service delivery from emasculation.
We make bold to aver that the media in our clime in the faded year 2023, has corporately delivered to the premium as much as available resources could afford.
For us in Delta NUJ, it was a turning point for the council – a year that altered the prevailing narrative; a year that enthroned a new chapter, which promises to uplift the professional pride and dignity of our members.
Saddled on a five-pronged agenda, couched in the acronym of POWER (Professionalism, Openness, Welfare, Engagement, Resourcefulness), our administration hopes to engage and synergise with all relevant stakeholders in all divides to deliver on our campaign promise.
This year we will be engaging the tiers of government, corporate bodies and individuals to support our drive for overseas and local professional training and capacity building programmes.
The intent is to reinvent the age-long passion and penchant of the journalist to be on top of his game, especially now that social media intruders and impersonators have flooded the profession and viciously striving to takeover our jobs.
How best explains a recent development where the Nigeria Army gave tacit credence to these professional usurpers by organising a forum for “Social Media Influencers”, without the involvement of the authorising professional body, the NUJ.
The leadership of NUJ Delta Council is also poised to provide a conducive work environment at the secretariat on Maryam Babangida Way, Asaba.
Hopefully, the ICT Centre and other businesses within the secretariat would be activated as we seek support to step down the 33KVA.
This 2024, it is our plan to embark on some structural projects within the secretariat premises that would generate revenue to the union as we strive towards financial sustenance.
At this point, we would like to appreciate and thank His Excellency, the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori on his fatherly disposition towards the union and his commitment to the welfare and upliftment of Delta workers.
Our admiration for the governor as a thorough, homegrown leader of his people is without any form of inducement. No surprise, Deltans have aptly nicknamed your administration’s MORE Agenda as “UKODO” For All Deltans.
Indeed, Governor Oborevwori’s disposition and approach to governance in the past seven months, has reflected that communal delicacy, which promises to spread spectacular development across the three senatorial districts of state simultaneously.
Of particular note, was his unscheduled visit to the Prof. Chike Edozien State Secretariat – to have a warm rapport with all government workers.
For the state workforce, that act of down-to-level presence remains the ginger they need to put in their best effort for the overall development of the state.
Again, he obtained a N40 billion loan to meet with the nagging arrears of pensions, which had orchestrated protests by senior citizens.
Next was the arrears of state government workers. In fact, workers welfare, very significantly, heralded the governor’s first 100 days in office.
The governor’s pro-labour activities in 2023 peaked with his unscheduled visit to now deceased Delta-born renowned labour leader on sickbed, our very elderstatesman Comrade Frank Kokori, where he undertook to clear all accrued medical bills.
On the demise of the labour leader, the state governor directed the setting up of a 22-man Funeral Committee to give befitting burial and last honour to the departed nationalist.
Government is said not to be good in business but the state government venture of right percent equity in the recently signed Floating LNG project is novel, particularly for its sure creation of jobs, additional source of revenue and overall corporate social responsibility impact on the host communities.
While we commend the Oborevwori administration for attracting construction giant, Julius Berger to handle key facelifting projects in Warri, Effurun and environs, we wish to encourage the state government to do away with road projects that reflect the past. We look forward to seeing roads with present and future outlooks, such as dualised and multiple lane roads, particularly in areas with less settlement.
For us the Okpanam Ibusa Road is reflective of the past and should rather be dualised to be in tune with the present state of developmental expectation.
Additional, commend the Delta State Government for its role in collaborating with federal security agencies to maintain peace, security and order.
However, we wish to call for the dismantling of barricades in front of police facilities in the state, especially those in urban settlements. The ones on Okpanam Road and A Division both in Asaba, the state capital, are particularly worrisome and a pain to road users after 6.00 pm when they are completely closed.
There is need for a review of that security strategy to safeguard police facilities in state, more so, when the immediate cause for the strategy has long outlived its threat.
As it concerns us as journalists and in consonance with the Engagement Agenda of the NUJ Delta leadership, we would mutually engage with the current administration in Delta State to ensure that Deltans get the best of democracy dividends.
This year would also engage the local governments, traditional institutions, organised private sector and all relevant stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and egalitarian society.
We urge members to align interests and key into the POWER Agenda of the NUJ Delta leadership, while keeping to the reverend ethos of the profession in service delivery.
Let’s embrace the New Year 2024 with both bands.
E Soweto! E Africa!
Comrade Churchill Oyowe
Chairman NUJ Delta Council
Comrade Victor Sorokwu
State Secretary NUJ Delta Council.
