The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council, has been awarded Best Outstanding State Council in terms of performance in Zone D (North Central) of the union.
The National President of the Union, Dr. Chris Isiguzo, who presented the award to the chairman of the council, Comrade Abu Nmodu, in Abuja yesterday during the National Executive Council meeting, said the award was based on the assessment conducted by a special committee set up by the union.
He said Niger State came in first in the North-Central Zone in terms of vibrancy, meeting up with the welfare of its members, and other developmental strides.
The president of NUJ stated that the award should spur other councils to do more and urged those who were not given the award now to up their game for the next edition.
Responding, the chairman of the state council of NUJ, Comrade Abu Nmodu, said he dedicated the award to all journalists in Niger State for their support in recording their modest achievements.
He said, "The award is certainly a product of teamwork, and I thank all journalists, stakeholders, and the good people of Niger State who have been supportive.
"This award is in line with the New Niger Agenda of our Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago; this means Niger State is on top and will continue to be a reference point for excellence. I also thank the Niger government for the support this far," Comrade Abu Nmodu said.
Niger State Government says it has resolved all contending issues with organised labour after a marathon meeting.
The governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, who held a closed-door meeting with officials of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, told journalists that Labour were initially angry with the government because of its passive response to its demands.
He said after the interface, the government had agreed on the demands of labour and was expected to call off the strike. The governor disclosed this yesterday at Government House, Minna.
He explained that most of the contending issues were inherited from the previous administration, and agreements for final resolutions would be concluded by officials of both parties.
The organised labour had, however, called off the strike late in the night yesterday after its emergency meeting in furtherance of the agreement reached with the government.
In a press statement trending on social media and signed by both the leadership of the NLC and TUC, it said labour was satisfied with the agreement reached with the government and asked workers to resume at their duty posts.
He disclosed that a tripartite committee comprising representatives from the state government, the House of Assembly, and organised labour has been set up to look at the laws on the issue of the appointments of executive directors, among others, with the view to finding a lasting solution to the issue.
The agreement reached by both parties centred on some appointments made by the governor, a wage award, a 2019 leave grant, the liability of third-party deductions, and consequential adjustments, among others.
Some of the agreements reached included the payment of N20,000 to state and local governments across the board in the month of March and payments of outstanding leave grants within the next six months.
