NGE Frets over State of Economy, Urges Revitalisation, Dialogue

Egbemode now acting president

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has noted with concern that the economy is largely in a bad shape showing signs of recession, as statistics of unemployment are worsening while the future looks bleak.

The body therefore urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to revitalise the economy in the area of job and wealth creation in order to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

The calls were contained in a communique issued at the 2016 2nd quarterly standing committee meeting of the Guild held on Friday in Abuja. It was jointly signed by the Acting President, Funke Egbemode and the General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga.

The Guild condemned in strong terms the vandalism of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region and called for dialogue by creating avenues to engage the various agitators in order to address their concerns. In the same vein it also urged the agitators to embrace dialogue.

The Guild also noted with concern the increasing spate of kidnapping across the country and called on the new Inspector-General of Police to come up with more proactive measures to curb the menace.

It, however, commended the gallantry of the Nigerian military in its fight against terrorism in the north east and the recovery of territories from the insurgents and urged government to pursue the anti-terrorism fight with more vigour until peace is fully restored to the troubled area.

The Guild expressed concern over the pathetic living condition of IDPs and called on government, corporate organisations, individuals and international agencies to come to their aid.

The Standing Committee elected the Managing Director/Editor in Chief, Telegraph Newspaper, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, as its Acting President after Garba Deen Muhammad voluntarily relinquished his position following his appointment as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC.