Media
NAN Workers Oppose Re-appointment of Former MD

By Afa Cha, Abuja
The Joint Union of the News Agency of Nigeria urged the federal government not to reappoint former Managing Director of the Agency, Bayo Onanuga, because reappointing him would inflict pain on the staff.
Spokeman of the joint union, Gambo Haruna, who spoke on behalf of the unions at a news conference in Abuja, said since the exit of Mr Onanuga, the agency has enjoyed industrial peace and harmony.
He, however, called for the appointment of someone, who have the understanding of the workings of the agency, saying this would go a long way to restore its dwindling performance and lost glory.
“Experience has shown that individuals with no knowledge and understanding of what the agency was established to achieve, come into the agency to manipulate, bastardise the system, and ignore the conditions of service and Public Service Rules.
“NAN members of staff, therefore, wish to thank President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians for their support and understanding.
“The members of staff wish (to) inform Mr President and Nigerians that NAN currently enjoys industrial peace and harmony after the exit of Bayo Onanuga, we sincerely believe that reappointing him would inflict more pains on the staff.
“At this juncture, we call on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt and other related Practices Commission (ICPC) to expedite actions in probing the allegations on misappropriation of funds made by the Joint Union.”
The unionist also demanded the reversal of all acting appointments of some officers, who had also benefitted from January 2018 promotion, saying this was an injustice to other colleagues employed on the same grade level.
He demanded the immediate deployment of officers on posting, seconded to NAN back to their various offices, saying this discourages career progression, and a negation of the Public Service Rules.
According to him, the engagement of contract staff is not only duplication, but a calculated attempt to make a confirmed staff of the agency redundant.
“This is apart from the fact that their continued engagement is costing the agency N3.9 million monthly, while seven state offices have been closed due to the inability to pay rent,” he said.
NAN has the Joint Union under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWUN).
Others are the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporation and Government-Owned Companies.
Media
Kogi Journalists Partner KGIRS On Tax Administration Enlightenment

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Practicing Journalists in Kogi state have expressed readiness to partner with the State Internal Revenue Service on tax administration enlightenment and adequate publicity of its activities.
Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel, Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Segun Salami, gave the indication when he led his members on a visit to the Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe.
Salami promised a robust collaboration with the agency in creation of public awareness on the need for all taxable citizens to embrace prompt payment of their personal income taxes.
“Our task as journalists is to assist the agency in meeting up with its target of revenue generation for Kogi government through our social responsibility duty of enlightening the people to key into regular and prompt payment of their taxes as when due
“Journalists also owe it as a duty to alert citizens on the need to contribute their quota towards the development of their state and the nation in general by meeting up with their financial commitment on prompt tax payment”
Salami advocated for quarterly media interaction with the agency as part of the partnership move in publicising its activities.
He commended the Executive Chairman and his management team for the resouding success so far recorded in generating more revenue for the state government to provide the needed democracy dividends to the people.
Responding, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe, expressed delight over the prevailing cordial relationship between his angency and practicing Journalists in Kogi since assumption of office.
He promised to sustain the feat in the interest of both parties geared towards achieving accelerated transformation of Kogi.
Enehe also gave an assurance that he would live above board under the partnership agreement which according to him would go a long way in improving the agency’s services of mobilizing resources for the development of the state.
Media
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Health
ICRC Trains 25 Journalists on First Aid Treatment in Yola

From Yagana Ali, Yola.
The International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) has organized a three -day training for 25 journalists on effective First Aid Treatment to prospective casualties.
The workshop, which took place in Yola drew the beneficiaries from different media houses across the state.
In a presentation, Communication Field Officer of the organization, Lemdi Edmond took the participants memory lane from its cradle to limelight.
He pointed out that ICRC intervenes basically in crises involving armed conflicts translating to man -made or unnatural disasters.
Edmond further explained that while the International Federation of the Red Cross intervenes in the area of natural disasters, like flood and earthquake, the National Red Cross Societies handles both natural and man – made situations.
The Communication Field Officer identified seven principles of the Committee to include humanity, impartiality,Neutrality and independence among others.
On their parts, First Aid and Pre-hospital Care Field Office Yola and Abuja respectively, Charity Maxwell and Daniel Ebodor jointly exposed the participants to the meaning, relevance and significance of the First Aid.
They maintained that First Aids basically aimed to save life, prevent condition from further deteriorating and promote speedy recovery.
They identified truthfulness, sympathy, resourcefulness, tolerance and empathy among others as qualities of a good First Aider.
The duo also enumerated and extensively explained Primary Survey variables relating to First Aid as Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and chest compression.
Interestingly, the participants were vigorously engaged in practical First Aid treatment on various aspects having to do with Burns, Fainting, Fracture and bleeding among others.
Highlights of the training were questions and answers, presentation of certificate and First Aid Kits to the participants