By Chinwe Imo-Eze Onwosi
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State council has raised the alarm over reckless taskforce operations in the state and urged the state government to check the operations.
The union noted the excesses of revenue agents and traffic enforcement taskforce were unbecoming.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of its congress in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The communique signed by comrade Samson Nwafor, Chairman of the council, Comrade Chinaza John, Secretary, noted with dismay that the revenue agents and traffic taskforce have been going about harassing residents of the state.
It therefore called on the state government to take drastic measures towards harmonizing their operations.
“Congress noted with serious concern the activities of revenue agents and task force operating in the state, who go about harassing the residents and therefore, called on the State Government to take drastic measures towards harmonizing their operations.
This, Congress believes will help to fish out fake ones among them, as their actions are bringing bad name to the state government.
“Congress specifically condemned the activities of taskforce in charge of enforcing traffic rules within the capital City, whose modus operandi has resulted in many road crashes and deaths, and calls on the State government to closely checkmate their activities and possibly embark on training for them or disband them in order to end their uncouth activities”, the communique stated.
The Communique urged Governor Francis Nwifuru to wade into extortion of landlords by the leadership of their host communities, especially in Izzi Land, who often come up with multiple levies unknown to law for land already paid for.
The union however, congratulated the Governor on his two years anniversary. and noted that his administration has been impactful and wished him well in all his efforts towards giving the state good governance.
It expressed worry over the rising level of poverty in the country and implored government at all levels to embark on aggressive skill acquisition programmes and other forms of empowerment programmes to cushion the effect of the scourge.
“Such interventions must be guided against racketeers who often hijack them against the reach of the supposed beneficiaries”, the union recommended