100 DAYS IN OFFICE: ALENKHE MATCHING WORDS WITH ACTION

By Francis Akhigbe

During his campaigns to be the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe assured Journalists in Edo State of his determination to reposition the Union and restore the dignity and integrity as the 4th Estate of the realm. He termed his Mission as" Fresh Breath for Edo NUJ.

He rolled out  20 items as his Programme of Action, namely;

(a) Free Internet Service which he promised to provide within 72 hours on assumption of office as the Chairman of NUJ.

(b) Training of Journalists

(c) Provision of Functional E- Library

(d) Protection of Journalists

(e) Maintenance of the Toilet 

      Facilities in the Press Center.

(f) Compendium of all Journalists in

      Edo State Council

(e) Facelift of the NUJ Press Center

(f) Comprehensive Health Care for 

      Journalists

(g) Insurance Scheme for 

      Journalists  

(h) Patnership with Government,                 Private and Corporate                        Institutions for placement of                 Journalists as Chief Press                    Secretaries, Media Aids etc.

(I) Provision of Infrastructure

(j) Financial Transparency

(k) Collaboration with NAWOJ/SWAN

(l) Office Space for SWAN

(m) Electricity/Power Supply

(n) Security

(o) Economic Fortune for Journalists

(p) Awards/Recognition

(r) Vehicles/ Working Tools for                 Journalists.

On the 17th of December, 2021, the election was conducted and he, Comrade Festus Alenkhe won overwhelmingly and he was sworn in as the Chairman of NUJ, Edo State Council.

In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to all the Journalists that voted in the election. He said that he was in a hurry to fufil his campaign promises. He reiterated that though he promised to give internet facility within 72 hours on his assumption of Office, he was reducing the 72 hours to 24 hours and within 17 hours, internet was installed.

Within 100 days in office, Chairman Festus Alenkhe has fufilled virtually all the campaign promises he earmarked for his three years tenure.

Toilets in the premises are now functional, unlike before where Journalists rushed to nearby Benin Motel Plaza or nearby bush to ease themselves. 

A comprehensive Compendium is being put in place to know the genuine Journalists in Edo State. This is to eliminate quacks in the profession.

On Security, CCTV cameras are already installed within the Premises of NUJ. Since then, there have been no incidents of theft in the Center.

On Economic Fortune For Journalists, the Chairman have been able to organize soft loans for willing members through a designated Bank and many of them have gotten alerts from the Bank.

On Electricity/Power, the Chairman approached His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Goodwin Obaseki to assist in giving power through the Ossiomon Power Plant to the Press Center. The Governor in his magnanimity  granted the request, Ossiomo duen Power has been installed and awaiting commissioning.

The physical structure of the NUJ is undergoing restructuring and renovation and soon, the Center will be a center befitting the pen profession.

On Health Care, many Journalists have keyed in to the Edo Health Insurance Scheme of the State Government.

On Training of Journalists, many of them are now in International Institute of Journalism to acquire the requisite qualifications and recently, some of them were trained on how to administer first aid incase of any accident or incident.

All the above were done within hundred days in office by the Chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe who Journalists now popularly called "Digital Chairman".

There was Thanksgiving Service to mark the hundred days in Office and in the Chairman's usual hospitality, Journalists were lavishly entertained.