Unprecedented. That word best describes the disbursement of N1,825,000 by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, to 32 members under its welfare scheme on Friday, June 26 bringing the total amount disbursed since commencement of implementation of the scheme on August 2, 2019 to N2.1million.Friday’s event, which was held at the Press Centre, Uyo, recorded the highest number of beneficiaries and was the third in the series of disbursements under the scheme.
The beneficiaries were categorised under bereavement, celebration and death.
Under death of member category, the families of the four journalists who have died received N200,000 each, while 13 members who were bereaved went home with N50, 000 each.
On the other hand, 15 beneficiaries under celebration category, got N25,000 each.
In the first set of disbursement last year, which was under celebration category, the two beneficiaries got N25,000 each.
The second batch also recorded two beneficiaries in January this year, one of them being the family of a deceased journalist, whose spouse received N200,000. The other beneficiary got N50,000 under bereavement category.
In his remark, the state chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, who was obviously elated by the implementation of the welfare scheme, said the disbursement was a clear indication that his administration was not playing politics with the welfare of journalists in Akwa Ibom.
Etuk assured journalists that their welfare will never take a back seat during his administration and called on those who have not contributed to the welfare purse to do so.
The state chairman lauded the efforts of members of the State Working Committee (SWC), chapel chairmen and secretaries as well as the Welfare Committee to the implementation of the scheme.
Earlier in his remark, the chairman of the Welfare Committee, Comrade Edem Okon, assured journalists of his commitment and that of the team to the successful implementation of the scheme.
Before the presentation of the packages to beneficiaries, the chairman of Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, Prince Akpan Ikim, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said that he was partnering the Union on awareness campaign on environmental issues.
He said that his agency’s focus during this rainy season is desilting of drains, but lamented the attitude of some residents of Uyo Metropolis, who delight in dumping waste in the gutter, when it rains.
He added that environmental sanitation was everybody’s job and urged residents of Uyo to desilt drains in their neighborhood during the environmental sanitation exercise.
A minute silence was observed in honour of the departed journalists – Itoro Bernard, who was of the State Information Chapel; Emmanuel Ikora, Correspondents’ Chapel; Ima-Abasi Etok, AKBC TV Chapel and Monday Akpan, Federal Information Chapel.
In their separate remarks on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Grace Akpan, Elder Patrick Albert and Mr. Nkereuwem Etok lauded the NUJ for sharing in their sorrow and those who celebrated.
It would be recalled that the immediate past chairman, Elder Albert, had put in place a welfare scheme for journalists before he left office.
Under the scheme, members of the Union are required to contribute N500.00, each, when a journalist dies.
Loss of parent or spouse attracts N200,000 contribution by members, while N100,000 is for social activities.
