By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

CALABAR – AHEAD of the triennial delegates conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ, slated for Abuja this month, journalists in the South-South geo-political zone of the country have endorsed the second term ambition of the National President of the union, Alhaji Mohammed Garba.

The endorsement was part of the resolution of Chairmen and Secretaries of NUJ, Zone ‘F’ which comprises Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States Councils after its meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday.

Chairmen and Secretaries in the zone in the resolution, said the NUJ President had performed excellently well to merit a  second term and had made commitments towards the welfare of journalism practitioners in his first tenure.

They said: “We note and commend the achievements of the National President in the past three years with specific reference to the acquisition of an expansive permanent site for the building of the NUJ national secretariat at Abuja, insurance scheme for journalists, and 22 percent weighting/hardship allowance for media practitioners.

“We unanimously support and endorse the NUJ President for re-election based on his appreciable performance and urge all delegates in NUJ Zone ‘F’ and indeed our sister zones across the country, to encourage his second tenure bid for the growth and stability of our great union.”

The zone in the confidence vote on Garba,  explained that its endorsement was also necessitated through the revival of NUJ National Media Games, review of the union’s constitution and the successful advocacy for the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act.