Author: Oloniruha Emmanuel

  • Group tasks APC on better reward system for party loyalists

    Reward

    By Emmanuel Oloniruha

    Abuja, June 8, 2024(NAN) Renewed Hope Unity Movement, a support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has advised the party to establish a better reward system for its loyalists.

    The Initiator and Co-Convener of the group, Iretidola Ojekhoa, gave the advice at an award night organised by the group on Friday in Abuja.

    Ojekhoa said that 2014 marked the beginning of a political revolution and a watershed in party politics in Nigeria–when APC, a newly formed party, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which thought it would rule for at least 60 years.

    She, however, said that most of those who worked for the party had yet to be rewarded; even when there were very experienced and professional patriots among them.

    “The nation, of course, needs people who not only want to be appointed but who are passionate about the APC government succeeding against all odds, considering the many ulcers plaguing the nation.

    “The last ten years have proven one thing–the APC seems not interested in molding and maintaining an organic membership.

    “In fact, it has spawned a mercenary mentality among members as the party has been abysmal in recognising and rewarding loyalty.

    “The APC of today is so unconcerned or unaware about the neglect of its core supporters; that commitment ebbs so fast among members; even the worst of the PDP days, recognised its loyal members.’’

    Ojekhoa said unfortunately many who worked and still working daily were never recognised but watch others who they fought against at one point or another over party matter took up prominent places.

    “We see that their resilience is being tested and hope deferred has begun to make the heart weary; and so, we are standing in the gap and doing a little of what the party should have long done as a start in the journey of desired unity of purpose.

    “As stated above, we have never promoted the idea of exclusivity in governance.’’

    Ojekhoa said that the event was to celebrate 10 years of loyalty of certain groups and individuals in APC who had never been celebrated, recognised or honoured, yet remained unwavering.

    She said that some of those to be honoured were foot soldiers who canvassed the nooks and crannies of the nation 10 years ago, dispensing hope and mobilising support for the APC.

    “We are here to celebrate those who have labored for the party for these 10 years but never got a pat on the back.

    “It is also to remind those who have conveniently forgotten their labour of love that our loyal members are still around though neglected,” she said.

    Ojekhoa said that though every members of the party who worked for it victory could not be appointed but they deserved to be recognised and celebrated.

    Mr Ateli Emmanuel, the President, Amalgamated Nigerians, and a Chieftain of the party in FCT, commended the group for recognising him as one of those that deserved the award.

    Emmanuel, who expressed confidence in the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, advised him to engage more youth and technocrats in his government.

    Another awardee, Mr Aja Aja, a lawyer, said it was unfortunate that the party had failed to recognise loyal members, adding that the award ceremony would serve as succour to many.

    Aja expressed the willingness of some of the committed party members to partner with government to move the country forward and achieve the Renew Hope Agenda of the present administration.

    On one year of the present government in office, Aja urged Tinubu to prioritise people’s welfare and implement his core policies that would make people to begin to see evidence of good governance going forward.

    He also advised government to harness all the potential at its disposal and look beyond what he currently has.

    “There are so many talents in Nigeria, both political talents and professional talents; get them on board and see that the Renewed Hope agenda is not an aborted dream,” he said.

    Dr Adewale Adeogun, Founder/National Coordinator, Asiwaju Progressive Forum, advised Tinubu’s supporters not to lose hope but continue to support him and his administration to succeed.

    “Yes, there are people who feel they should be appointed but we should be more concerned about how this country is governed,” Adeogun advised.

    Other recipients of the group award in recognition of a decade of service to APC and Nigeria included Taminu Kabir, Edo Bartholomeus, Obi Kenneth, Hussain Badaki and Hawal Kabir.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    OBE/CJ/

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    Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

  • Group urges anti-graft agencies to investigate alleged tax corruption in NSITF

    Group urges anti-graft agencies to investigate alleged tax corruption in NSITF

    Corruption
    By Emmanuel Oloniruha
    Abuja, June 7, 2024(NAN)The Transparency and Accountability Group(TAG), a civil society coalition against corruption, has called on anti-corruption agencies to probe the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) over alleged non-remittance of N2.1 billion workers’ tax.

    The group made the call at a news conference by the Executive Director, Centre for Responsive Governance, Mr Ayodeji Ologun, on Friday in Abuja.

    Ologun also called on both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe NSITF’s procurement processes.

    He called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the alleged series of crisis rocking the agency, which often result to frequent clash between the union and management.

    He alleged that the sum of N2.1 billion was deducted from the NSITF staff’s salaries in 2022 as taxes, but instead of remitting it to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the agency invested it.

    He said that up till this moment the said amount was yet to be remitted to the FIRS, thereby delayed issuance of tax clearance certificate to the staff of the agency.

    “Members of staff of this agency living Lagos, particularly and other zones face different difficulties when applying tax clearance to enroll their wards in school.

    “Our findings revealed that rather than remitting this huge amount of money, the management of NSITF invested this money with Norrenberger, a company that wasn’t among the counterparties approved by the board of the agency,’’ he said.

    Ologun said though the present Managing Director of NISTF, Mrs Maureen Allagoa, was the Executive Director of Administration when the money was invested; the deducted t”xes were yet to be remitted even under her watch.

    He also called on the anti-graft agencies to investigate the role of the former Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, in the allegation.

    Ologun also called on the ICPC to conduct a thorough investigation into appointment of a consultant by the NSITF to conduct forensic investigation without due process.

    He said that the fund managing director in December 2022 secretly appointed Messers Deem Forensic Integrated Services Limited to inspect the books of all contributors to the NSITF.

    He said that the decision which was communicated to all NSITF regional, branch offices and all stakeholders on Jan. 27, 2023, cited sections 31, 53 and of the employees compensation Act 2010.

    He added that in an attempt to cover its track the management on May 8, constituted a Parastatal Tenders Board (PTB) to consider and award the procurement of consultants;

    “To conduct forensic recovery into remittances of companies/organizations in the Private Sector Qualified under the Act to remit one per cent of gross payroll to the NSITF from 2010 till date.

    “We found out that this act is tantamount to the breach of procurement process,’’ he said.

    Ologun said that NSITF Management was attempting to award the same contract in 2024 to Deem Forensic Global Services and M/S Nwaodu Udochi Anthony & Co. with ambiguous terms of payment.

    He urged the ICPC to mandated NSITF to produce evidence of the purported board approval and how Deem Francis was recruited to embark on the sensitive consultancy service.

    He also called on”the NSITF management to show to the public financial implications of the project, provision for the expenditure in 2022 appropriation and how much Deem Forentic has been paid so far.

    Ologun also accused the agency of duplication of already existing contracts, arbitrary and outrageous spending of public funds on frivolities.

    “We also observed that in the proposed award of internet connectivity of 19 DRC, the management is to spend the sum of N133.9m, which is to be awarded to M/S NEWCOM GLOBAL SERVICES LTD.

    “This is obviously outrageous and not in tandem what is expected of an agency saddled with the responsibility of managing people’s fund,’’ he said..

    Meanwhile the management NSITF has dismissed the allegations by the group, describing it as another “ sound and furry” by extortionists and detractors.

    The agency in a statement by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nwachukwu Godson, vowed to move ahead with its reform.

    Godson recalled that the NSITF had on May 14, challenged a cohort of TAG to prove similar allegations or take its trade elsewhere.

    He said that agency was  not cowed by the unrewarding whining from a poorly articled traders of hurt and malice since its books were opened and there was nothing really to hide .

    He said that the deliberate distortion of the issues surrounding the N47 million gratuity had adequately been addressed by the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Simon Lalong through a committee set up in October 2023, which established no guilt against the NISTF managing director.

    He said that all the allegations were lies told so many times which had failed before consistent knocking of available facts.

    Godson  said that the allegations by TAG were a motley rehash of issues which had been properly addressed before now and some of which the ICPC and EFCC were investigating and so far, no wrong doing established on the part of the agency’s management. (NAN)(www.nannnews.ng)
    OBE/IAA
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    Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

  • N60,000 minimum wage not sustainable – NGF

    N60,000 minimum wage not sustainable – NGF

    Wage
    By Emmanuel Oloniruha
    Abuja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says though a new minimum wage is due, the proposed N60,000 is not sustainable.

    NGF’s Acting Director on Media and Public Affairs, Hajiya Halima Ahmed, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, sympathised with the labour unions in their push for higher wages.

    Ahmed, however, urged all parties to consider the fact that the minimum wage negotiations also involved consequential adjustments across all cadres, including pensioners.

    “The NGF cautions parties in this important discussion to look beyond just signing a document for the sake of it; any agreement to be signed should be sustainable and realistic.

    “All things considered, the NGF holds that the N60,000 minimum wage proposal is not sustainable and cannot fly.

    “It will simply mean that many states will spend all their Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations on just paying salaries, with nothing left for development purposes.

    “In fact, a few states will end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not think this will be in the collective interest of the country, including workers,’’ she said.

    Ahmed, on behalf of the governors appealed to all parties involved, especially the labour unions, to consider all the socio-economic variables.

    She urged the stakeholders to settle for an agreement that was sustainable, durable, and fair to all other segments of the society, who had legitimate claim to public resources. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    OBE/FON/IKU
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    Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Tayo Ikujuni

  • PDP demands arrest, prosecute of suspended Adamawa REC

    PDP demands arrest, prosecute of suspended Adamawa REC

    Persecution

    By Emmanuel Oloniruha

    Abuja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The People Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr  Olukayode Egbetokun, to expiate efforts towards the arrest of and prosecution of Malam Hudu Yunusa -Ari, the suspended INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa.

    The opposition party said arresting and prosecting Yunusa-Yari would be in obedience to an earlier court order.

    The party ‘s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, made the call during a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

    Yunusa -Ari was suspended over attempt to usurp the powers of the state returning officer when he declared the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Governorship Candidate, Aishatu Binani, winner of the April 15, 2023 Adamawa governorship election.

    At the point of the declaration the collation of the election results was incomplete.

    Ologunagba described the action as civilian coup and attempt to subvert Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

    The High Court of Justice of Adamawa State, No. 9, Yola Division has issued a Warrant of Arrest of Yunusa -Ari dated May 21, 2024.

    The court ordered the IGP to apprehend and produce Yunusa-Ari before it to answer to the charges preferred against him.

    The order of the court was received by the office of the IGP on May 23.

    He said that since the removal of Yunusa-Ari, he has been on the run, forgotten the saying that “time they say, does not run against the×× State in criminal matters.”

    He said the delay in the prosecution of Yunusa-Ari constituted a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.

    “The failure of the Nigerian police so far to apprehend and bring Yunusa-Ari to justice is capable of creating a bad precedence and encourage other public officers to act with impunity.

    “There is tendency for them to behave as if there are no consequences for acts contrary to law and their Oath of Office’’, he said.

    The PDP, therefore, charged the IGP to, in compliance with the order of court, immediately locate, arrest and bring Yunusa-Ari before the court for prosecution.

    “This is especially as there are allegations and apprehension in the public space that Yunusa-Ari has perfected plans to escape from the country and evade trial.

    “The PDP insists that Yunusa-Ari must be made to face the full wrath of the law for his assault against our democracy,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    OBE/KUA

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    Edited by Uche Anunne

  • NACA to fast-track payment for participants of 2023 NCDs survey

    NACA to fast-track payment for participants of 2023 NCDs survey

    Payments

    By Emmanuel Oloniruha

    Abuja, June 6,  2024(NAN) The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has assured participants of the 2023 Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Step Survey of their payments.

    The acting Director of NACA, Mr James Aneneh, gave the assurance when he received a group of the participants who were at NACA office in Abuja on Wednesday to protest the delay in the payment.

    Aneneh, who took the protesters into the office for discussion, said that though the project was not Federal Government funded programme, the agency would do everything within its power to help fast-track the payment of all outstanding.

    “NACA was just a fund-holder of the project . The agency was not the coordinator of the activities. The project was funded by the Global Fund.

    Aneneh also pleaded with the group to understand that because it was global fund specific, there were strict process in place, including verification of claims before payment.

    “Based on global fund implementation principles, when you have concluded an activity, there are processes that must take place before you get paid, whatever is owed.

    “ This is not a government of Nigeria activity, which means we are using foreign funder, which is a Global Fund. They have their own due process in place before any payments can be finalised.

    “ While all of this has gone on, I also made aware this morning that some of your retirements came in March. If a retirement came in March, there are so many processes to have to take place before payments are finalised.

    Aneneh said while some states had been paid, some were cleared for payment, while some were also being processed for payments.

    “Like I said earlier, because it’s global funds specifically, which I think governments of Nigeria should be doing too, they have very strict processes in place before payments are made.

    “They have due diligence. They must verify things. If you sent a flight ticket, they must verify it before they can clear it for payment.

    `From the briefing I received from the Global Fund this morning is that these processes are still ongoing. There are still some states that are still being verified. So the states are being cleared in batches.

    “ We’ve just cleared a state that is going to be paid any time from now,” he said.

    He assured them that NACA was not sitting on their money but their claims had to be verified by Global Fund before any payment could be made.

    “There’s nothing we can do with that fund. If we don’t spend it as Global Fund has asked us to spend it, we’ll return it back to them.

    “We really, really sympathize with you and understand where you’re coming from, and your anger.

    “We have to listen to you people very carefully and figure out a way to immediately expedite action for you to get your payment.

    “There is no reason for somebody to do a job six or eight months prior and not get paid.

    “Even though we have the resources, if we pay you before the Global Fund says you can go ahead and pay, government of Nigeria will have to pay that money back because it becomes ineligible.”

    On the sleep out claim, James said that the office would discuss with the groups vocal persons to look into the agreement that was reach and possible intervention.

    Speaking earlier during the protest at the agency ‘s gate, Mrs Judith Ekeh, who led three others in a peaceful protest to NACA office said they were engaged in various positions by agency and the Federal Ministry of Health for the exercise 2023, but yet to be paid.

    Ekeh, who served as enumerator during the exercise, urged the agency to pay their money have concluded the survey since 2023.

    She said before they were engaged for the survey, they were promised to be paid in three batches.

    “We told that the third batch is going to come after retirement of all work documents. Twenty days into the job, our training allowance was paid.

    “We already agreed they were going to pay us N8, 000 per day.

    “We finished the job and retired all our documents, all the tablets giving to us, all the apparatus, everything given to us.

    “My team worked in Niger . We finished the work and came back from the field since August. Our first payment came around Dec. 24. Since then, no other payment has been made,’’ she said.

    Ekeh said it was painful that their payments were to delayed.

    “If you know how Niger terrain was? We took risks. I was sick for several days.

    “One of my teammates lost her pregnancy. We took so much risk for this payment to be delayed,’’ she said.

    Eked also urged the agency to intervene on the payment of their “sleep-out –allowance’’.

    She said that they were told that only 12 out of 60 days would be paid, which according to her is unacceptable.

    Ekek appreciated matured way they were received by NACA management.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    OBE/BEKl/SH

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    Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Sadiya Hamza

     

     

     

  • No merger talks with any party – PDP

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    PDP not in  merger talks with any party – Ologunagba

    Merger

    By Emmanuel Oloniruha

    Abuja, June 5, 2024 (NAN) The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is not in  merger or amalgamation talks with any  political party or interest.

     

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary,Mr  Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this in a statement issued after the party’s NWC 587th meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

     

    Olugunagba said that while PDP was open to  all Nigerians ,including its former members who left for other parties, the party remained strong and formidable.

     

    According to him, the party is capable of winning elections in a free, fair and transparent electoral process in Nigeria.

     

    “The NWC acknowledges the influx of millions of Nigerians into our party in the on-going party membership drive in all the electoral wards across the country.

     

    “This further confirms that the PDP remains the party of choice for majority of Nigerians.

     

    “The public, teeming members of PDP and of course, the international community should therefore, disregard any report suggesting any form of merger between the PDP and any other political party, as such is not in the contemplation of our great party,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    OBE/FON/BHB
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    Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Buhari Bolaji

  • INEC extends CVR in Edo, Ondo to June 9

    Registration

    By Emmanuel Oloniruha

    Abuja, June 4, 2024(NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo earlier scheduled to end on June 6 to June 9.

    Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Olumekun added that the daily duration of the exercise was also extended from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    “Furthermore, the number of registration centres has been increased beyond the 397 wards and the state offices in Benin City and Akure to include all the 36 Local Government offices of INEC in the two states.

    “More machines will also be deployed to areas identified to have peculiar needs such as difficult terrain,” he said.

    He added that detailed information on the names and location of the LGA offices have been uploaded to INEC website and social media platforms to guide prospective voters in the two states.

    Olumekun said that the decision was taken after a review of the exercise, stakeholders’ appeal, and other matters, to enable more eligible voters in the two states to register.

    He disclosed that as at June 3, eight days after the commencement of the CVR, a total of 120,458 new voters had been registered.

    He said that out of the figure, 55,861, representing 46.4 per cent were males, while 64,597, representing 53.6 per cent were female.

    He added that 82,003 of the voters, representing 68.8 per cent, were youths between the ages of 18 and 34 years, thereby constituting the majority of the newly registered voters.

    “In terms of occupation, 43,419m representing 36.8 per cent are students, while 812, representing 0.67 per cent are Persons with Disability (PWDs),” he said.

    He explained that the final figures would be published on a state-by-state basis after a data clean up, indicating all categories of newly registered voters at the end of the exercise.

    Olumekun said that the data would be clean using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

    He appealed to eligible voters to seize the opportunity of the extension to register, transfer or correct personal information on their PVCs as provided by law, adding that there would be no further extension. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    OBE/EBI/FDY

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    Edited by Benson Iziama and Philip Yatai

  • NAN MD mulls adoption of military-like retirement ceremony for staff 

    NAN MD mulls adoption of military-like retirement ceremony for staff

    Pull-out

    By Angela Atabo and Emmanuel Oloniruha

    Abuja, June 3, 2024 (NAN) The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Mohammed Ali said on Monday the agency would “adopt the military style of pulling out its retirees” from service.

    Ali said this during the send-off party organised for the agency’s immediate past Head of Politics Desk Mr Inuwa Ali, after 35 years of service.

    Military pulling-out parades, also known as farewell parades, are held at the instance of retiring senior officers who have served the nation meritoriously.

    According to the managing director, the military-style pull-out ceremony will be significant because it will indicate that their contributions and service of more than 30 years have been recognised and acknowledged.

    “I think we will now adopt the military style of pulling out its retirees because they have contributed enormously.

    “This style of celebrating our retirees in the newsroom will have to change and we will now have to pull them out like it is done for generals in the military,” he said.

    Ali reiterated his commitment to leveraging technology to deliver the agency’s mandate by building a workforce that is in tune with technology and digitally savvy.

    “Recently we made some changes in the editorial department – at least in the multimedia unit – because we want to reposition the agency such that it can face the impending challenge of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    “Now the shape of the newsroom in the digital or AI era is quite scary and unless we wake up to that reality and equip ourselves with the right knowledge and tools, we will be left behind.

    “We are determined to collectively confront and understand the threat of job losses because, with AI, you won’t need many people in your operations,” he said.

    He congratulated Inuwa on his retirement, describing him as a close friend, a selfless and generous man, and fun to be with.

    In his speech, Mr Ephraims Sheyin, NAN’s Editor-In-Chief (EIC), said Inuwa was not only an effective staff member but also one of those persons a leader could rely on for their support.

    Sheyin said Inuwa always made everyone around him in the newsroom feel at ease and laugh even when the situation was tense.

    “He seemed to know many things happening in many parts of the country and would tell stories using the happenings and make everybody around him laugh,’’ he said.

    The EIC described Inuwa as one of the staff members always willing to do their best and sacrifice for the agency, advising editorial staff to continue to offer their best services.

    The agency’s Director of Administration, Mr Abdulkadir Khaliel, also congratulated Inuwa on his retirement and prayed to God to grant him a brighter future in his retirement life.

    Also speaking, the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Mr Mufutau OJo, described Inuwa as an effective media manager who offered his subordinates effective leadership and trained them to become better reporters without having to bully them.

    He urged other leaders in the agency to emulate Inuwa’s leadership style.

    “One thing we have learned about him is that you can be an effective media manager without being a bully.

    “He is a type that has been doing a lot, even without being noticed,’’ he said.

    Deputy Editor-in-Chief (DEIC) and Head of NAN Abuja Newsroom, My Kayode Olaitan, described Inuwa as a friendly and calm person with whom he had worked over many years.

    “One thing I know about him is that he is a very calm person who will never reject a request from you,’’ Olaitan said.

    Another DEIC, Hajia Hadiza Aliyu, the Head of the Health and Gender Desk, described herself as a member of “Inuwa’s tea-drinking club’’.

    She said that Inuwa was retiring even when he still had so much to offer the agency and the nation.

    She said  Inuwa would be remembered for his sense of humour in the newsroom and for sharing tea with his colleagues.

    Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Mrs Ese Eniola-Williams, also extolled the good qualities of Ali, describing him as a generous person always willing to share good things with his colleagues.

    Another Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Gregory Mmadukolam, urged NAN management to find a way to re-engage Inuwa even after retirement for his wealth of experience and skills.

    A politics correspondent, Emmanuel Oloniruha, described Inuwa as hardworking, jovial, and open-hearted.

    “Inuwa is a man who does not hide his feelings when you fail to carry out instructions.

    “However, the moment you let him see reason and apologise, he let go,’’ Oloniruha said.

    He prayed to God to grant him a fulfilled life in retirement.

    Another reporter, Angela Atabo, described Inuwa as a good boss always willing to assist reporters with their reports regardless of the time of the day.

    “As my desk head, I learned a lot from him, especially how to cover civil society organisations.

    “He will be greatly missed. I wish him all the best in life,’’ she said.

    Responding to the encomiums poured out upon him, the retiree, thanked his colleagues for the outpouring of love and for celebrating him.

    “I started my career in the Lagos office of the agency on the sports beat and met colleagues who became like brothers to me.

    “I have travelled to more than 10 countries across the world in the course of my job.  I covered three Africa Nations Cup tournaments.

    “I have been to South Africa, Spain, the U.S., and Sydney, among others, covering sports.

    “I am proud to have worked in NAN.

    “All the experiences helped to shape my life and made me who I am today, and I am fulfilled because I am leaving NAN today feeling like a two-star general,’’ he said

    According to Inuwa, journalists give their all in their jobs, yet what they are paid is not commensurate with what they put in for the sake of society.

    He called for the implementation of a decent media salary structure acceptable to Nigerian journalists.

    “We are getting so much less. Nigerian journalists are suffering and I think it is time now for the NUJ to champion this cause, for them to have a better salary scale in this country.

    “That is the motivation. We have offered so much to Nigeria. We deserve so much from Nigeria too,’’ he added. (NAN) (www.nannnews.ng)
    ATAB/OBE/YEE
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    (Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)