NUJ Propose Stipends for Aged Colleagues

FROM OUR NEWS DESK (AWKA)

The Anambra State Council of the  Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ has demonstrated that the contributions of the aged members of the pen profession ought not to be swept under the waste bin, thus, having set up a 4-man-committee to work towards ameliorating the sufferings of those who placed the problems of the members of the public above theirs while in active service.

Announcing this yesterday during this month’s congress held at Godwin Ezeemo Intranational Press Center, Awka, the Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Emeka Odogwu Emeka (Ph.D.), said the plight of aged Journalists has touched the hearts of the Council, noting that the nicest way to make Journalists at that cedar feel been remembered was to show them that their respective contributions to the society will not be skipped in a hurry.

Charging the committee members led by Comrade Tempest Udeze of the National Link Chapel to come up with the names of journalists from the age of seventy years and others who are facing life challenges before the Council, Comrade Emeka Odogwu Emeka also tasked the committee to scout out funds within the union and philanthropists in the society for the monthly stipends for the aged media men hence the union receives no grant from the state government.

“I have the authority of the Anambra State Council of our union to appoint a committee to take care of our aged colleagues who have, during their days in active service, paid their dues to the society but today, age had caught up with them and the society no longer cares for them and we cannot forget them because they are. our own. 

“Your terms of reference are to get all names of our old colleagues at the age of seventy years and above, find out what is their most pressing predicament, source funds within the union, from the government cycle and as well from the spirited individuals, pay them monthly stipends according to funds available”; NUJ Anambra State Chairman directed.

In their acceptance speech, Comrade Tempest Udeze, on behalf of the rest members of the committee, thanked the union for founding them worthy to serve. He assured them that they are going to do everything possible in bringing life back to those who mortgaged their lives for others during their active service.

Members of the Committee include Comrades; Tempest Udeze- Chairman, Dr. Likechukwu Nwokedi to serve as the Secretary, Nweke Nweke -member, and Chukwugozie Chwhukwlote also a member. The Council, however, described the chairman’s imitative as not only wonderful but an action worthy of emulation by other councils of the union