The Bauchi state Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadri Mohammed has said that he carried the cross of the former president Jonathan administration after his exit from office as minister of the Federal Capital Territory as he was one of the most visible minister.
Similarly, the Governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to improve the welfare of media in the state, saying that journalists are facing challenges of survival in the discharge of their duties.
The Governor was speaking on Wednesday evening when newly elected members of NUJ state executive council paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House Bauchi.
Mohammed said that he had to face the issue of accountability when he left office as minister, pointing out despite all the prosecutions and persecutions,he faced all the charges against him.
“We in this noble profession, believe in transperancy , accountability and the judicial system of the country because it is the last hope of the common man.That is why I am always taking care to know where are my colleagues when we are doing things because I am under that notice that I have to be accountable and make you proud”
“I cannot betrayed that value and morals that you carry.As members of the society that are not selfish, that are detribalised, nationalistic and honest in doing things, i have taken note of your needs and those are things I must do ordinary without being asked”
“When I was in the FCT, I had to rebuild the NUJ chapter, through cooperate social responsibility.I had to provide land for the National headquarters because I am a proud member of the journalist community.Definately, I have made promises to you and I am conscious of them.We will look in as we have so many contending needs on our treasury.We will rebuild the NUJ headquarters here and I will do it as my legacy” he said
Meanwhile,the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadri Mohammed has reiterated the commitment of his administration to improve the welfare of media in the state, saying that journalists are facing challenges of survival in the discharge of thier duties.
The Governor stated this on Wednesday when he received members of the newly elected executives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) led by its State Chairman, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House Bauchi.
The Governor said that he has always looked at the media with nostalgia, saying that he has soft center for reporters, knowing that they are exposed to a lot of challenges from the society, often without any enumeration as they are just given a pen and paper without salaries or allowances.
He said that most of the media houses are facing the challenges of survival, adding that newspaper proprietors and media owners are battling with economic problems of the country despite the fact that the media is the mirror the society looks to correct itself.
“Sometimes we have to follow newsmakers that are less qualified than us for news.We go through insults and challenges before we are able to discharge this wondrous responsibility. I want to congratulate you for being dogged, patriotic and doing all these despite the challenges”
“Your appointment should be seen as a service to humanity because it is a thankless job, even to the media houses you are serving and the society. Sometimes, we are looked upon with a lot of destain.Often we are subject of larcoun and culkature. Often we are insulted, but we have to do the job because it is the number one profession of the universe”
“This is the profession I had always wanted to be.I am one of the luckiest member of the media profession who has risen, left the profession, went to administration and later into politics.You have always been there supporting and been with me. I am watching my career progression with keen interest and I have several constituencies, but the biggest
burden is being a media man” he said
Earlier in his remarks, the newly elected State Chairman of the NUJ,Comrade Umar Saad commended the Governor for being a media friendly person, saying that many journalists are now given political appointments in the state executive council.
He appealed to the Governor to approve the appointment of casual staff working in media houses, approve weigh-in allowances for journalists in the state, assist journalists with working facilities as well as allocate houses to working journalists in the state.
.END