*Call on Gov Kefas to remove Information Commissioner
From Godwin Agia, in Jalingo
The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Taraba state chapter, on Tuesday accused the state Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Barrister Zainab Usman Jalingo of obstructing their duties and resolved to pass a vote of no confidence on her.
In an emergency Congress meeting held at the chapel Secretariat in Jalingo, the union also resolved to boycott all Taraba state government activities henceforth.
In the Congress resolution signed by the Resolution Drafting Committee chairman, Mr Charles Akpeji, the union decried what they described as a neglect of journalists and the profession, citing the commissioner’s alleged deliberate and continued sidelining of the press during major state functions.
The Chapel also expressed outrage over the government’s failure to accredit its members for coverage of the high-profile upcoming Taraba State International Investment Summit (TARAVEST) and the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state.
“Following the high level of incompetence displayed by the Taraba state Commissioner for Information, Barr. Zainab Usman Jalingo, we the correspondent’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), have unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in her, and ask Governor Agbu Kefas to remove her in the interest of good governance.
“Barr. Usman Jalingo has continuously failed in discharging her duty as Commissioner for Information, making the government of governor Agbu Kefas unprojected.
“Her deliberate and continued sidelining of the press during major state functions, and the government failure to accredit correspondents for coverage of the high-profile upcoming Taraba State International Investment Summit (TARAVEST) and the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state on Wednesday calls for action.
“We have seen this action as a calculated attempt to gag the press, and we unequivocally condemn the blatant disregard for press freedom and transparency. We hereby announce an immediate and indefinite boycott of all Taraba State Government activities.
“Following a statement credited to the Commissioner regarding the invitation of accredited journalists for a road walk—an event from which members of the Correspondents’ Chapel were excluded, we wish to inform the general public that henceforth, the correspondents chapel would no longer report any government activities.
“However, we wish to reassure residents of Taraba State of our unwavering commitment to our watchdog role. We will continue to report on issues affecting citizens and will hold the government accountable—regardless of intimidation or exclusion,” the chapel said.
Efforts to get comment from the accused Commissioner for comments did not yield result. Repeated phone calls put across to her were unanswered.
A text message was also sent to her for comments but was not replied.
The message reads: “Good evening Hon. Commissioner, I am a correspondent’s Chapel member. May I please know your take about the Correspondents’ Chapel’s decision to boycott government activities due to alleged sidelining of the press. I’d love to hear your side of the story. Can you please clarify the reasons behind the accreditation process for TARAVEST and President Tinubu’s visit? Looking forward to your response.”
Calls to other Taraba government officials and media assistants seeking clarification on the matter also rang out unanswered.
