NUJ chairman expresses worry over delapidated condition of Taraba Press Center

 

Jethro Yerga, Jalingo

The chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Taraba State Council, Comrade Mathew Eliud Jen has expressed deep concern over the delapidated condition of Oyekhire Press Center Jalingo.

The Chairman was addressing members of Taraba State Executive Council (SEC),  NUJ during his second interaction with SEC members since his inauguration a month back.

He tressed that the Center was completely an Eyesore and does not reflect the entergrity of Journalists who are the fourth estate of the realm.

Comrade Mathew Jen who conducted members of SEC round the Center on an assessment tour to ascertain the true state of its facilities, pointed out that previous leaders of the Council  had worked tooth and nail to ensure that the Center was revived but they were constrained by several factors beyond their control.

"It's quite pathetic to see that our  Press Center which is supposed to be a meeting point of all Comrades of our great union as it is in other states of the Federation, is in this shamble and sorry state. I want to appeal to all of us to join hands with the newly inaugurated exco of our great union to see how we can revive the Center.

"This is a task we most deploy all our wisdom and strength to attain because, the Center is a reflection of who we are. It's a reflection of who we claim to be and a reflection of our unionism". He stated.

Comrade Mathew Jen further called on spirited individuals and charity organizations willing to assist corporate bodies to come to the aid of Journalists in the state through physical and mental contributions to enable the exco revive the Press Center to give Journalists in the state a befitting meeting point.

Meanwhile, our reporter who went round with members of the SEC during the tour, observed that the lodge, which constitues the major structure at the Center aside offices, has its ceilings in some rooms, helplessly pulled down without anybody to tidy the the rooms.

Mattresses were also pulled out from some beds and taken away and toilets messed up,  leaving the rooms with a disgusting stench that can scare even dogs from taking refuge in them.

At the fringes of the Center, the gutters were begging for attention as the Zink on the roof of some shops were making unfriendly noise that discouraged members of SEC from  continuing  with the tour. This is not to talk of the defaced and broken walls as well as broken bottles littered round the premises of the Center.