The Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji to appoint Information Officers as permanent secretaries in the State Ministry of Information, a position they’ve never attained in the 28-year history of Ekiti State.
In a communiqué signed by the NUJ’s Secretary, O’Seun Ogunsakin, the union highlighted the lack of promotion for senior Information Officers despite their qualifications.
The appeal, voiced during the May congress, pointed out that two officers have over stayed on Grade Level 16 for six years, with 19 others on the cusp of promotion to this level, creating a backlog of 21 officers stuck in their advancement.
This move, they argue, would enhance morale and performance within the ministry, aligning Ekiti with progressive states like Ogun that recently made such appointments.
The NUJ also pressed for the payment of Weigh-in allowances, which their counterparts in other states already receive, to further support the journalists in the Ministry.
In the same communiqué, the union commended Governor Oyebanji’s distribution of palliatives, with the fifth batch recently aiding citizens during tough economic times.
On security, the union praised the swift actions of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Akinwale Adeniran, for the recent arrests of suspected murderers in Ado Ekiti. They urged the police to continue their proactive efforts to curb crime in the state.
