From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has asked the state government to revisit the Almajiri education policy of previous administrations as part of urgent measures to tackle the growing menace of out-of-school children and street begging.
The union, rising from its monthly congress held at the NUJ Secretariat on Monday, warned that poverty, lack of access to education, and social exclusion were fueling the crisis, and called on Governor Uba Sani to evolve robust programmes that offer alternative livelihoods and widen educational opportunities for vulnerable families.
In a communiqué signed by Usman Sani (Chairman), Lola Seriki-Idahosa (Member) and Ango Bally (Secretary), the NUJ also urged the government to accelerate the completion of major road projects across Kaduna metropolis and other parts of the state, stressing that lingering construction was worsening hardships for commuters and traders.
It specifically listed roads such as Kabala Costain–Nuhu Aliyu Road in Barnawa; Television Garage–Sabon Tasha; Sabon Tasha–Unguwan Gimbiya–Juji Road; Kakuri–Nasarawa; and Kabala West–Hayin Nariya Road among projects begging for speedy completion.
The Congress, presided over by the Council Chairman, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe, also deliberated on rising incidents of urban crime and called on the government to sustain the recently launched Taskforce to flush out criminals and reclaim dangerous flashpoints across the state.
Turning to broader issues, the journalists commended the Northern Governors Forum for facilitating the ongoing payment of severance allowances to staff of the New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) Limited. They said the gesture would restore dignity to affected workers who had endured years of uncertainty.
While reviewing political developments, the NUJ congratulated Governor Uba Sani on his conferment with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), describing it as a deserved recognition of his contributions to democracy and development. It also hailed former Kaduna Military Governor, Colonel Dangiwa Umar (rtd), popularly known as the “Soldier of Democracy,” and Senator Shehu Sani, who were similarly honoured.
The Council equally praised the Kaduna State Government for successfully hosting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his state visit in June, during which he commissioned landmark projects marking Governor Sani’s two years in office. These included the 300-bed Specialist Hospital at Millennium City, three Skills Acquisition and Technology Centres across Igabi, Zangon Kataf and Soba LGAs, deployment of CNG vehicles and assorted road projects.
Internally, the NUJ Congress constituted key committees to strengthen the Council’s operations. These include an Ethics and Disciplinary Committee to enforce professional standards; a Press Centre Management Committee to oversee the Secretariat’s assets; a Credentials Committee to conduct a bye-election for the vacant position of Treasurer; and an Expanded Welfare Committee to deepen support for members.
The Council also encouraged journalists to ensure prompt payment of their professional fees and check-off dues to facilitate the smooth running of Union activities at chapel, state and national levels.
Members were further briefed on the National Secretariat’s efforts to secure the accreditation of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) programme by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and formalise its affiliation with the University of Maiduguri.
Reaffirming its core mandate, the NUJ pledged to continue championing ethical journalism, holding power accountable, and pushing for policies that protect journalists’ welfare and uplift the society at large.