Plateau Journalists Lament Backlog Of Unpaid Adverts Money By Former Governor Jang

By Agabus Pwanagba, Jos – Journalists in Plateau State are currently lamenting over non-payment of outstanding adverts money running into millions of naira, owed different media outfits by former governor Jonah Jang.

The journalists in a press statement signed by the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the State, Aminu Yusuf Idegu, Tuesday, expressed disappointment in the manner the former Governor vacated office without defraying such conspicuous commitments.

“It is even more worrisome that Jang did not reflect same in his handover notes to the new administration in Government House”, the journalists lamented.

The statement also noted that some of the debts owed the media organizations through the state correspondents dated as far back as 2012, indicating that about 10 media outfits were affected.

Idegu stressed that given the peculiar experiences which journalists, especially correspondents grappled with, covering the recurrent crises that plagued the tenure of Jang as the Governor of Plateau State, he described the former Governor as an “insensitive ingrate” for denying the “labourers” their legitimate earnings.

He added that despite the vigil the affected correspondents kept between the new Government House and the residence of the immediate past commissioner for finance, the government parked off and literally vanished through the back doors.

“Upon further inquiries by the anxious Journalists, it was gathered that Jang closed the matter, saying the only money he had left is for his tribunal cases” said the Chairman.

Meanwhile, the correspondent has called on the new State’s Governor, Barrister Simon Lalong to toe a new course, so as to maintain a healthy working relationship with the various media organizations.