Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
External journalists under the umbrella of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, have threatened to boycott the activities of the Anambra State Government.
This comes barely two months after the parent union, NUJ, in the state accused the Governor and some government officials of showcasing nonchalant attitude towards journalists in the state.
In a statement signed by the Chapel’s Chairman, Chuks Ilozue; and Secretary, Tochukwu Ifejika; the group announced its decision on Tuesday after reviewing its relationship with the Government.
The statement read:“Despite several correspondences over the past two years, we have observed a serious lacuna in the relationship between the chapel and the government.
“This includes the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Commissioner for Information Sir Paul Nwosu, and Press Secretary to the Governor Christian Aburime.”
The Correspondents Chapel which comprises journalists covering the state Government activities, expressed frustration over the Government’s lack of cooperation and responsiveness to their requests.
The statement highlighted several instances of disregard by government officials, including the failure to respond to inquiries, ignoring requests for interviews, and excluding journalists from important events.
The chapel also lamented the lack of access to information, which has hindered their ability to report accurately and effectively on government activities.
The statement accused the Government of showing disdain for the media, citing instances of unconscionable attitude.
The Correspondents Chapel emphasised that their role is to hold the Government accountable and provide a platform for the voices of citizens to be heard.
They said that Government’s actions have made it challenging for them to perform their duties, leading to the decision to boycott government activities.
The chapel called on the Government to address their grievances and engage in a more constructive relationship with the media.
They vowed to extend their boycott to all Government activities, including press conferences and official events if the issues were not resolved.
