COVID-19: Recognise Journalists As Frontline Workers, Hallah, Chairman Of Adamawa Press, Appeals To Gov Fintiri

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA -The newly appointed chairman of the Adamawa Press Ltd, Mr Tashikalmah Hallah, has called on the Adamawa State Government to recognise journalists involved in reporting COVID-19 plague as frontline workers in the fight against the pandemic.
Speaking at the recent inauguration of the newly constituted board of the company in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Hon Garba Umar Pella, Hallah commended Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri over the manner he was handling the infection.
According to the newly appointed chairman, “Your Excellency, we must commend you and your government in the way you handle the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. The rapid response in case detection, contact tracing and treatment is one of the best in the country and we pray this effort be sustained. In the light of this, the Board, Management and Staff of the Adamawa Press Limited join millions of other people to pay tributes to our frontline Heath workers for their resilience and dedication.
“The current challenges of COVID-19, is a global phenomenon that has destabilised acts of governance, Adamawa State is not an exception. Most governments have gone back to the drawing board to re-strategies and set her priorities, with health care and education taking the lead.
“However, mention should be made of the Media. They are also frontline workers, with special place in the society. Your Excellency, it is not out of place if I called on the government to specially commend our journalists who, like our health workers, have made sacrifices to see that our citizens are well informed about this deadly disease. We, on our part, doff our hats for all journalists.”
Commending the Adamawa Press Limited that was established in 1986 as the Gongola Press Limited, he said the management of the newspapers should be applauded for remaining on the streets despite myriad of challenges.
“Sir, as we set out to execute our assignments, may we plead with the government to understand with us, by continuously giving us the necessary political and financial support to enable us discharge our duties effectively.
“To us, the Board Members, we consider our appointment as being entrusted with a sick child on our laps. We promised to nurture the child back to life and bequeath to the next Board a robust, healthy looking child. This is a puzzle before us that we promise to solve,” he said.