NUJ Warri Chapel Shuns Delta Govt Activities

• Alleges lack of accountability, transparency in governance process

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents Chapel, is angry with the Delta State Government over issues of non-accountability and has therefore decided to boycott all its activities forthwith.

According to the Chapel, the state government incurred its wrath for failing to give a proper account of activities to the people, especially in Delta South and Delta Central senatorial districts of the state which fall within the Chapel’s jurisdiction.

The chapel decision against the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration was taken during its monthly Congress on Monday, May 16, 2022, at the NUJ Correspondents Chapel Press Centre in Warri, Delta State.

Arising from the Congress, a communique jointly signed by the Chapel’s Chairman and Secretary, Comrades Victor Okpomor and Dele Fasan, as well as the Communique Drafting Committee, Comrade Joe Ogbodu, Sylvester Idowu, and Ebenezer Adurokiya, members expressed frustrations in meeting up with expectations of their headquarters due to nonchalance and lack of cooperation by State government officials

In the communique, the Congress decried a situation where Journalists from the chapel are not carried along concerning government functions and activities within these senatorial districts, saying; “The Delta State government appeared far from the people in Warri.”

Highlighting its grievances with the administration, the Congress further lamented that there are lots of issues that require the government’s attention but have been left unattended, adding; “What the Delta Government is good at is to keep churning out press releases upon press releases about issues and programmes bordering on governance in the state with journalists not given ample opportunity to ask first-hand questions.

“The Congress has been inundated with a series of calls and accusations alleging compromise on the part of journalists covering this part of the state over failure to acquaint the government with the plight of the people, especially in the area of some abandoned and neglected projects.

“Since we’re not accessible to government’s policies, challenges and programmes, except what is contained in its press releases, we’ve been finding it difficult to meet the expectations of the people.

“Information managers of the state government, who are supposed to acquaint the people with the update of its activities, appear evasive making the job cumbersome for members of the fourth estate of the realm.”