••• Demands Transparency in Ondo Textbook Approval
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has taken a swipe at federal lawmakers from the state, accusing them of doing little or nothing to address the collapse of federal highways linking Ondo to neighbouring states.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its August Congress in Akure, presided over by the State Chairman, Prince Leke Adegbite, the union listed the Ikare–Irun–Ado Ekiti road, Owo–Ipele–Isua–Kabba road, and Ikare–Arigidi–Ajowa road as examples of federal routes that have become “death traps” despite repeated promises.
The NUJ Congress commended the ongoing dualisation of the Akure–Ado Ekiti and Ore–Ondo–Akure roads but said Ondo’s representatives at the National Assembly must “rise above lip service and deliver on the basic responsibility of lobbying for projects that save lives.”
On education, the union welcomed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s decision to ban exploitative graduation ceremonies and encourage the re-use of school textbooks, describing them as progressive steps.
However, it stressed that these policies will only succeed if the Ministry of Education immediately publishes an approved list of textbooks for the 2025/2026 session to prevent schools and publishers from exploiting parents.
The communiqué also touched on other issues, including casualisation of journalists, unpaid wage arrears at Owena Press, and insecurity fueled by economic hardship, but noted that the plight of federal roads and parents’ exploitation by schools must be treated as urgent priorities.
The document was e-signed by the State Secretary, Olaoluwa Meshack, on behalf of the union.
