Correspondents’ ban coverage of SUBEB activities in Benue

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

The Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, has placed a ban on the coverage of all activities of the  State Universal Basic Education Board by its members in the State.

This is part of the Resolutions of an emergency Congress of the Benue Correspondents’ chapel of the MUJ held on 20th signed by the Chairman, Emmanuel Antswen and the Secretary, Titus Atondu made available to Nigerian NewsDirect on Wednesday.

The resolutions read as follows: “The Congress has placed a ban on the coverage of all activities of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), following the utterances of the Executive Chairman of the Board, Dr. Grace Adagba.

“During the visit of members of the Correspondents Chapel to her office, Dr Adagba  tagged journalists as ‘opposition party.’ She also accused journalists of under reporting Gov Hyacinth Alia’s activities.

“The Congress also resolved that the SUBEB Chairman should withdraw her statement and tender unreserved apology.

”The Congress commended the Executive Governor of Benue State Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia for his developmental strides within nine months of his administration, that earned him several awards including the Governor of the Year award by a reputable medium, Leadership Newspaper.

”The congress also acknowledged the efforts of the Media handlers of the Governor especially the Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula and the Principal Special Assistant, Media & Publicity/Strategic Communication, Mrs. Bridget Kyado in their attempts to resolve the matter.

“The Congress also resolved that the Chapel will not take lightly any form of disrespect or demeaning utterances/statements from any member of the public against them.”