Adebayo Adenrele
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has expressed concern over the growing influx of able-bodied men and women disguising themselves as beggars and mentally challenged individuals, into Akure and other towns across the state.
This was part of the resolutions reached and the communiqué signed by the Council’s Secretary, Olaoluwa Meshack and issued at the end of its June congress, held at the Press Centre, Alagbaka, Akure.
In a Congress presided over by the State Chairman, Prince Leke Adegbite, members expressed dismay over the increasing presence of strange faces in major towns across the state, noting that many of them appeared to be physically fit but were masquerading as beggars or persons with mental illnesses.
The congress maintained that while genuine cases of destitution deserve compassion, the increasing number of unidentified persons moving freely within the state without proper monitoring raises legitimate security concerns, particularly in view of the country’s prevailing security challenges.
The journalists, therefore, urged the Ondo State Government, security agencies and other relevant authorities to strengthen surveillance mechanisms, profile suspicious individuals and take proactive steps to prevent any breach of public safety.
The communiqué reads, ”That the Congress unanimously passed a resolution empowering the Union’s leadership to name the Biggest Hall at the Press Centre after the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Wisdom Olawande, as a mark of appreciation for his various interventions in upgrading facilities at the NUJ State Secretariat ‘Press Centre, Akure’.
”That the Congress called on the Federal Government to urgently address the shortage of manpower in the federal media organisations, particularly at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice of Nigeria (VON), stressing that adequate staffing and proper funding are essential for effective public service broadcasting.
”That the Congress appreciated the Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the State House of Assembly for ensuring timely enactment of a law to incorporate the Owena Press (publisher of The Hope newspaper) as agitated by the Ondo State NUJ.
“The Union called on the State Commissioner for Information, Hon Idowu Ajanaku and the new Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, to urgently ensure full implementation of the new law on the Ondo State Government Printing and Publishing Corporation, in order to achieve the set goals.
”That the Congress commended the National Leaders of NUJ under Comrade Alhassan Yahya for organising a National Security Summit in collaboration with the DSS and called on the authorities to implement recommendations at the summit to curb disturbing insecurity in the country.
”That the Congress applauded the Governor Aiyedatiwa led administration for embarking on the construction of milestone Flyover on Oba Adesida Road in the heart of Akure, urging the Government and the Contractor handling the project to ensure its completion as scheduled.
”While noting that the alternative Roads in Akure might witness more vehicular traffic due to the construction of the Flyover, NUJ charges the state government to make sure that Arakale road is rid of illegal and indiscriminate parking especially by Keke & okada riders to ensure free movement of road users.
”That the Union also urged the Ondo State Government to expedite actions on other road projects going on across the State in the interest of the masses.
”That the Congress frowned at the slow pace of work on the Akure-Owo-Benin road dualization project, particularly, the Akure/Ogbese axis and urged the contractor handling the federal project to make way for easy vehicular movement before removing the tarred road, and as well ensure the completion one carriageway before commencing work on the second lane.
”That the Congress also expressed concern over the rising cases of accidents as a result of traffic light violations by motorists within Akure metropolis and enjoined the State Ministry of Transport, law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities to enforce compliance and punish violators.
”That the Congress expressed dismay over massive influx of strange faces, able bodied men and women posing as beggars or lunatics in Akure and other towns in the state and NUJ challenged the state government and security agencies to put surveillance on the situation which posed serious security threat to the state.
”That the Congress also noted with dismay, the ineffective waste management system across the state, which is gradually turning parts of Akure, the state capital into dumpsites, and called on the state government to provide more waste disposal equipment, including operational vehicles and as well recruiting more hands, expressing fear that the staff might have been overwhelmed.
”That the Congress which commended the peaceful conduct of the Ondo South Senatorial Bye-election by the INEC and other stakeholders, congratulated the winner, Senator (Prof) Adedayo Faduyile who has since assumed office at the National Assembly”.
