The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration to urgently employ fresh hands into the state-owned media organizations, including the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), The Hope newspaper, and the Ministry of Information.
The Union made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its monthly congress held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the Press Centre, Alagbaka, Akure. The congress was presided over by the State Chairman, Prince Leke Adegbite, and attended by members from across all chapels.
The NUJ congress applauded the Aiyedatiwa administration for its ongoing investments in the OSRC Media Group but stressed that employment of new staff was urgently needed to strengthen operations across state-owned media outfits.
It also frowned at the increasing casualization of media workers by both government and private media houses, as well as the non-payment of salaries by some private organizations, describing such practices as violations of labour laws.
On federal establishments, the congress urged the Federal Government to upgrade obsolete equipment and recruit more manpower at NTA Akure and Radio Nigeria Positive FM.
It further appealed for the promotion of all qualified federal media workers this year as a morale booster.
The Union also tasked the Ondo State Accountant General to pay the four-month arrears of the new minimum wage owed to staff of Owena Press, covering November 2024 to February 2025, while urging the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, to work with stakeholders to restructure and mainstream Owena Press into a corporation.
While appreciating government interventions at the NUJ Press Centre and progressive policies in the education sector, the Union called for strict enforcement of the ban on exploitative graduation ceremonies for nursery and junior secondary schools, and immediate release of the approved list of textbooks for public schools.
On security, the NUJ expressed worry over the rising crime rate and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give a human face to economic policies, noting that hardship remains a major driver of insecurity.
It also commended the Federal Government for the dualisation of Akure-Ado Ekiti and Ore-Ondo-Akure roads but urged Ondo lawmakers at the National Assembly to push for urgent reconstruction of other deplorable federal roads in the state, including Ikare-Irun-Ado Ekiti, Owo-Ipele-Isua Akoko-Kabba, and Ikare-Arigidi-Ajowa roads.
The congress encouraged Governor Aiyedatiwa to remain focused on delivering development for the overall prosperity of Ondo State.
