Headline
Gov Sule approves renovation of NUJ Press Centre
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has approved the renovation of the Secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state.
Mr Ibrahim Agbolo, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, made the disclosure during a courtesy call at the NUJ press centre on Tuesday in Lafia.
According to the commissioner the governor is undertaking the project because of the critical role members of the union are playing towards propagating the policies and programmes of the state government to the outside world.
“The renovation will cover total upgrading of the structure and installation of the state of the art facilities to make it a modern building,” he added.
On the essence of the visit, Mr Agbolo said it was aimed at familiarising with the leadership of the union and other critical stakeholders in the information sector with a view to strengthen the existing partnership.
“This is my first official assignment outside the ministry and I have decided to start with the union because of how important journalists are to us.
“We are going to work with you and other critical stakeholders to propagate the things that the state government has been doing across the state.
“You know, Gov. Abdullahi Sule has done a lot and is still doing much in different sectors of the economy to better the lives of the citizens,” the commissioner added.
Agbolo further said that the governor had invested a lot in security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, youths and women empowerment, and human capital development, among others.
Responding, Mr Salihu Mohammed-Alkali, the NUJ Chairman, commended the commissioner and his team for the visit and recognition.
The NUJ chairman said the gesture by the governor to remodel and upgrade the press centre would never be forgotten by the entirety of journalists in the state.
Mohammed-Alkali, however, assured the commissioner that journalists in the state would continue to do their work professionally devoid of sentiment.
“NUJ and by extension, all journalists will collaborate with the state government and other stakeholders to propagate its activities with a view of making the state better,” the chairman added.
The Commissioner was accompanied at visit by Mr Yusuf Musa, Permanent Secretary of the ministry and other directors.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
Woman killed while crossing road in Anambra
LASG’s maize palliative impactful, says poultry association chair
Fagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty
BDCs now buying dollar at ₦980 — ABCON President
Osun Poly Student, Olanrewaju Olatona killed by hit-and-run one-way driver
Seplat Energy celebrates a decade of Dual Listing with Bell Ringing Ceremony at Nigerian Stock Exchange
3 teens arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting terror attack
Breaking…Naira abuse: Court sentences Bobrisky to 6 months in custody
Lagos Court Grants Emefiele N50m Bail
