By AMOS MATHEW, Kaduna –
Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council has described as worrisome and unacceptable 111 number of deaths of former employees of New Nigerian Newspapers expecting their entitlements from 19 northern state governors.
A communique, issued, following a congress of the union presided over by the Council Chairman Comrade Abdulgafar Alabelewe, frowned at the inability of the owners of the famous Newspaper Company established by the late Ahmadu Bello to pay severance benefits of their former workers, despite realizing far more than the amount needed to settle staff liabilities from sales of assets of the establishment.
“We observe with grave concern the plight of former workers of the New Nigerian Newspapers over the deliberate refusal of Northern State Governors chaired by Gombe State Governor to settle their entitlements which has resulted to the death of 111 former staff and 45 others on admission battling various ailments.
“We are calling on the concerned authorities to take immediate steps towards ensuring that the outstanding benefits of the NNN workers are paid without further delay, ” the statement added.
The gathering, while lauding the concerted efforts of Kaduna State Government and residents in addressing insecurity across the State, expressed deep concern over what it called resurgence of street gangsters in the metropolis, especially motor parks, pedestrian bridges among other flashpoints.
The Council however acknowledged the success of adopting the non-kinetic approach by the Uba Sani adminstration in fighting banditry and other forms of insecurity.
The union also expressed satisfaction over the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa’s collaboration with Kaduna State Government in tackling kidnapping and banditry across the state.
The gathering of Journalists commended the Speaker House of Reps Tajudeen Abbas for what it described as demonstrable leadership qualities geared towards advancing the interest and welfare of his Constituents and indeed Nigerians, including members of the 4th Estate of the Realm, considering the distribution of welfare packages to various groups and associations, including NUJ, Zaria Unit which got a Ford Galaxy car.
