Maduako Igbokwe l Monday, May 8, 2023
AWKA, Anambra – Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo is finetuning plans to sack over 200 staff of Anambra State owned newspapers , National Light.
National Light is about the only newspaper in Nigeria that reports news in Igbo Language, apart from the regular English Language editions. It is edited by a very versatile journalist, Chuka Nnabuife.
Our reporter learnt that in the last state executive meeting, the governor raised the issues of shuting the newspaper. He said the state newspapers is not generating enough fund for the state. An inside source told our correspondent that the governor hinted that those staff may be sacked instead redeployment into other ministries.
Based on the information, the chairman of Anambra State Union of Journalists NUJ Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu had last week urged the governor not to close the newspaper House , especially now that things are hard.
According to him, if the governor must close the newspaper House he should redeploy all the affected persons into various state ministries.
He said that those who work with newspaper House have defendants and they will suffer if they are sacked from jobs.
The State NUJ chairman said “the SSG, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu has finished writing a letter to close National Light Newspaper and Printing Corporation; and once Governor Charles Charles Soludo signs it, the organisation will be closed for good”
Reacting to the NUJ’s chairman statement, Anambra state Commissioner for information, sir Paul Nwosu admitted that the issues of state newspapers closure are still being discussed and would be made public when concluded.
Nwosu said “The issue of National Light is still being intensively considered by the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC), and as soon as there is a firm decision, the news will be formally made public, but not through a grapevine or a mole”.
Meanwhile,one staff of National Light newspaper in the governor’s crew has been dropped by the Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Christian Abaurime from covering government activities.
The reporter said that when he came as usual to cover the governor’s activities, Abaurime asked him to leave and that he is no longer needed . When contacted, Press secretary to governor Christian Abaruime denied telling anybody to leave the governor’s office since he is no longer needed. According to him, the person should be able to say his name and where and when he told him that.
