..Calls for Regulation of Transport Fares, House Rents

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has raised concerns over security, rising cost of living and political tensions in the state, while commending Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for key interventions in the media and security sectors.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Union’s February Congress held at the Press Centre, Alagbaka, Akure. The Congress was presided over by the State Chairman, Leke Adegbite.
The Congress deliberated extensively on a wide range of issues spanning politics, the economy, environment, security and matters affecting the media industry.
On media development, the Union appreciated the governor for approving the conversion of Owena Press Limited from a private liability company to a corporation under the State Ministry of Information. The Congress noted that the move would automatically mainstream the organisation’s staff into the state civil service.
While congratulating workers of the establishment, the Union called for the speedy passage of the execution bill, which has reportedly scaled second reading at the Ondo State House of Assembly.
Similarly, the Congress commended the state government for the recent recruitment of new staff into the state-owned Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC). It, however, urged the government to expedite action on the absorption of contract staff whose appointments were not regularised during the last recruitment exercise.
On security, the Union expressed deep concern over the worsening situation in parts of the state, particularly the rising cases of commercialised kidnapping along the Akure North to Uso-Owo axis. It called on both the state and federal governments to intensify efforts at curbing the menace and ensure that perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted.
The Congress also lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa for the recent recruitment of additional personnel into the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, describing the move as a step towards strengthening the state’s security architecture. It urged the government to sustain efforts at safeguarding lives and property.
Addressing economic challenges, the Union decried the frequent increase in transportation fares across the state despite relative stability in petroleum prices. It called on the state government, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to regulate the activities of commercial drivers to prevent undue hardship on commuters.
The Congress further frowned at the arbitrary hike in the prices of building materials and house rents, particularly in Akure, urging the state government to regulate the activities of house agents and building material dealers to ease the burden on residents.
On inter-state matters, the Union appealed to the Federal Government and the National Boundary Commission to urgently intervene in the oil-rich Eba Island boundary dispute between Ondo and Ogun states to forestall escalation and possible violence. It urged both states to exercise restraint and resolve the matter amicably through legal means.
The Congress also condemned the crisis that erupted during a recent political congress in the state, calling on politicians to exercise restraint ahead of the 2027 general elections. It further urged security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted in accordance with the law.