Emelam Udo,, Umuahia.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abia State Council has boycotted coverage of all activities and engagements of Umuahia North Council Chairman as well as that those of the Council following disrespect of the Journalism profession, as well as members of the fourth estate of the realm.
In a 10-point Communique issued at the end of her monthly Congress for the month June, 2025 union equally barred journalists from capturing him or his Council in their reports whatsoever henceforth in all conventional Media.
The Congress which was well attended by members from the various Chapels and presided over by Chidi Asonye, the Council Chairman, noted with dismay, insults hurled on journalists were monitoring environmental sanitation exercise of May 31, 2025, by Smart Iheoma, Mayor of Umuahia North Local Government Area, wherein he, not only abused Abia journalists, calling them unprintable names, including “imbeciles” and “criminals,” but also threatened to bar them from covering state government functions.
The union out rightly condemned such action from an elected official of government even as it noted that it was unbecoming of a person in such a exalted office.
The Abia State Council further warned that any registered member of Abia State NUJ who goes against this resolution on the Chairman of Umuahia North LGA, including the medium that covers or reports events emanating there from, would be severely sanctioned.
However, the Council noted that it has enjoyed a very robust and cordial relationship with Abia State Government and would continue to do so but would not tolerate such actions that disrespect the noble and onerous responsibility of informing, educating and entertaining the various publics which rest on the shoulders of journalists.
