By Uduak Akai
UYO
The chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, has appealed to Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) to ensure adequate funding for Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) and Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC) in the 2026 budget.
Comrade Nsibiet John made the appeal during a one-day public hearing on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF), held at the Assembly Complex, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, Thursday, calling for budgetary provisions for the construction of AKBC’s permanent building and the acquisition of modern broadcast equipment.
The State NUJ chairman emphasised that AKBC remains the official broadcast mouthpiece of the State government and by extension, the people, and highlighted the need for improved funding to enhance its service delivery and broadcast reach.
He expressed concern over the trend where the state government spends significant amounts to hire private broadcast stations in Lagos for live coverage of its programmes, instead of utilising AKBC which, he said, could perform the same task if properly equipped and its staff adequately trained and motivated.
The NUJ boss urged lawmakers to conduct oversight visits to AKBC facilities for on-the-spot assessments and raise informed questions with the executive arm.
In addition, John advocated for the payment of “weigh-in allowance” to journalists in the employ of the state government, describing it as a much needed incentive for media professionals serving the public through state-owned outlets.
On the welfare of the Assembly Press Corps, the union leader appealed to the House leadership to review the current monthly stipend of N10,000 paid to legislative reporters, emphasising that the amount is grossly inadequate given the current economic realities.
He also called for regular training and capacity-building programmes for members of the press corps to enable them deliver more effective and professional reportage.
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