AMAC’s Oppressive Activities: NUJ FCT Holds Stakeholders Meeting

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Concerned by torrents of complaints by residents and motorists over the activities of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Taskforce/Marshal, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council has concluded plans for a town hall meeting with relevant stakeholders towards addressing some of the strangulating challenges they are forced to face by the authorities of the Municipal Area Council.

This is as the NUJ vowed that it remains committed as ever to ensuring that any act to suppress or infringe on the peoples’ right as being reported against AMAC will pass neither unnoticed nor unquestioned.

This was contained in a statement jointly issued and signed by the Secretary of NUJ, FCT Council and Chairman of the Planning Committee, Ochiaka Ugwu and Omeiza Ajayi, respectively, in which they stated that the event will take place on Monday, October 19, 2020 at the NUJ FCT Council secretariat by 10:00am.

The NUJ stated that the town hall meeting has become imperative following widespread complaints by residents and motorists alleging abuse, extortion, intimidation and sometimes physical abuse by operatives and officials of the AMAC Taskforce/Marshal.

The statement further states; “Based on the Constitutional guarantee in Chapter 22 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) the NUJ FCT views it as expedient to organize a town hall meeting to review the strategies of the AMAC Taskforce/marshal and develop interventions to ensure that key stakeholders are engaged and informed on their activities.

“It is also aimed at finding answers to burning issues which if not properly addressed and timely, too, could adversely impact on the fragile security situation in the territory.

“It is important to state that interfacing with stakeholders is essential in ensuring that citizens’ rights are protected while assisting the taskforce to carry out its assignment within the ambit of the law.

The NUJ expressed confidence that as a watchdog, it will systematically monitor the conduct of government at all levels and set agenda for good governance.