Asasa Seeks Partnership With NUJ ~ Truth Reporters

 

By Kelvin Ohoror 

The chairman of Isoko South Local Government Council, Hon. Victor Asasa on Wednesday this week visited the Isoko Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) with an appeal to foster a sustainable partnership with the Union.

Speaking during the courtesy call to the NUJ Press Centre in Oleh, the Council Chairman who was accompanied by the Secretary to the Council, Vantus Ogboghro and other key staff of the Council told the Union members that he was much aware of the crucial role of the Press both in promoting good governance and holding the other tiers of government accountable.

He solicited the cooperation of the media and noted that he has been committed to the upliftment of the standard of living of the Isoko South people despite the poor finances of the Council over time. 

He noted that with the improved allocation in recent times, the Council has been able to execute some projects in the Local Government Area including the renovation of the Oleh main abattoir, Renovation of the Divisional Police Officer's (DPO) official quarters and the provision/distribution of knapsack , Seed and Control Equipment to farmers across the Local Government Area.

Other areas the Isoko South Council has impacted include solar powered lights at Yanga market, Oleh, Irri evening market, Oleh Police station while the following communities like Ikpide-Irri, Enhwe, Okpolo/Ehnwe, Owodokpokpor, Olomoro, Emede, Aviara, Umeh, Idheze and Araya Bible Site also benefited among others.

The Council boss also maintained that the 182 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigeran Army, Oleh to have equally benefitted from the Council with the provision of temporary accommodation, furnishings with tables and chairs as well as generating set and refrigerator.

While reeling out his scorecard over the two and half years he has been on the saddle, Hon. Asasa maintained that the interest of the Isoko South people has been his priority hence he has sacrificed some comfort and benefits to him and his team to ensure that he improved on the living standard of his people.

He then called on the NUJ to partner with him to ensure that his mission to emancipate the Isoko South people remains in focus.

In his response, the Chairman of the NUJ, Isoko Chapel, Comrade Mike Ilaya said that NUJ as the watchdog of the society is always ready to carry out that duty without fear or favour and that the Council as the third tier of government that is closer to the grassroot must be seen to be doing the needful at all times devoid of window dressing and deception. 

He charged the Chairman to be up and doing in delivering the dividends of democracy to the Isoko people.

Also speaking during the visit, Comrade Emmanuel Ekebe, the immediate past chairman of the Chapel and now a member of the State Working Committee of the State Council of the NUJ admonished the chairman to feel at home with the media at all times as they both remain partners in progress on building a better society. 

He advised the chairman to be accommodating and open to the press to avoid misgivings as a workable synergy among the parties are a sinequanon for the deepening of democracy in the country.