By Benl Adaji, Jalingo
The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Taraba State, has declared an indefinite boycott of all state government activities, citing a deliberate attempt to sideline the press.
The decision followed an emergency congress where the union condemned the exclusion of its members from covering key events, including the high-profile Taraba State International Investment Summit (TARAVEST) and the recent visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a strongly worded resolution, the union described the state government’s action as a calculated move to gag the press and undermine transparency, accusing the administration of fostering a climate of secrecy and media suppression.
The Chapel also passed a vote of no confidence in the state Commissioner for Information, Zainab Usman Jalingo, whom it labeled “a misfit for the office,” following her comments on journalist accreditation and the exclusion of the Chapel from a government-organized road walk.
“The actions of the Commissioner and the government are not only an insult to the media but a threat to democracy,” the union said, warning that the exclusion of journalists reflects a hidden agenda within the government.
Despite the boycott, the union reaffirmed its commitment to its constitutional role as society’s watchdog and vowed to continue holding public officials accountable.
Reacting to the current administration’s performance, the union accused Governor Agbu Kefas of lacking tangible development achievements, stating that “not a single kilometre of road has been constructed in two years, nor is there a visible project to his name.”
The Chapel urged the public to see through the administration’s media blackout, vowing not to be silenced or intimidated.