In 2013, the administration of former governor of Gombe State Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has awarded a contract for the building of a Press Centre for the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Gombe State Council.
The contract was awarded to a construction company, AGS Power Nigeria Limited at the cost of 37 million naira, through the State Ministry of Information, to build a befitting NUJ Press Centre for the Nigeria Union of Journalist in Gombe.
But it is now eight years and the project is in deadlock, with the NUJ community in Gombe State operating in discomfort for lack of shelter that will give room for a formal business activities where members unite and work for efficient media coverage across the state.
You are making no mistake if you said Gombe NUJ family is torn apart, for lacking a befitting office environment. c
The current situation is that, the State NUJ officials including the Chairman Comrade Sa’idu Bappa Malala and everyone in the state council operate from the headquarters of the respective organisations they work for.
Speaking to newsmen at the premises of the uncompleted and abandoned NUJ Press Centre in Gombe Metropolis on Monday, the State NUJ Chairman Comrade Sa’idu Bappa Malala said the union had time without number appealed to the state government to facilitate the completion of the project.
While commending the efforts of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his giant’s strides in working for the development of the state, Malala urged the governor to complete the abandoned NUJ Press Centre as part of his administration’s commitment towards ensuring continuity in governance.
‘’ Base on the policies of the present administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, we have seen some projects that were abandoned, immediately when he came on board, he took it upon himself that these projects belongs to the Gombe State Government, and the resources being expended belongs to Gombe State government, so he is going to complete these projects, and this particular project of NUJ Press Centre should have been included’’, Comrade Malala stressed.
The lead contractor of the project and Managing Director AGS Power Nigeria Limited Alhaji Namanu Komanda said the project was abandoned because the state government stopped funding the project.
He pointed that the project reached 95% completion and the sum of 10 million naira can facilitate it accomplishment.
Few months after the inauguration of the Governor Muhammadu Inuiwa Yahaya led administration, the NUJ National President Mr Chris Osiguzo visited the facility along with the Gombe State Commissioner of Information Ibrahim Kwami who promised that the state government will look into the abandoned project and finish the work.
However, it is now over a year since that commitment was made by the government, but the state NUJ is yet to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
