Former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, (NUJ) Oyo State Council, Comrade Victor Oluwadamilare has charged Governors in the six southwestern states to formulate a comprehensive policy that will ensure that youths from the geo political zone are appointed into the federal civil service.
He further charged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to work in synergy with the country’s civil servants in order to have a hitch free and successful administration.
“A lot of us stay in Nigeria but are oblivious to how the government is being run. Many people are of the opinion that the civil servants are just government workers, which is true, but they are more than that. Although past government administrations have overlooked the civil service, for Nigeria to be better, the government must work in partnership with the civil service.
“I will advise the Yorubas in the top hierarchy of the civil service to promote their culture and language and help their fellow brothers secure opportunities, although I am not encouraging nepotism but through meritocracy.
“Another thing to note is that Yorubas do not seem to believe in joining the civil service. That is why, when they want to promote workers at the civil service; they are always missing. Most Yorubas are not ready to help each other compared to other tribes.
No To Relocation
“I think for us to solve this problem, we need to encourage our wards to get into civil service after their education. Everyone having the mentality of planning to relocate abroad is disastrous for the future of the Yoruba race in Nigeria. Therefore, young people should be encouraged to see this country as their home and be ready to serve their father’s land by joining the civil service. The government will not come down to our homes to employ us; rather we need to show interest by applying for the jobs”, he said.
The former Oyo NUJ boss made these submissions while featuring on our weekly radio show, ‘Parrot Xtra/Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Splash 105.5FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State on Tuesday.
He further charged Nigerians to support the present administration while urging the president to provide palliative measures to reduce the current suffering of the masses following the removal of fuel subsidy.
Comrade Victor, however, urged the president to be a respecter of the rule of law and court injunctions while urging him not to follow the footsteps of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, who was known for disobeying court orders.
The former media adviser to the minister of communication added that the administration of Buhari was a sham, which further plunged the country into an embarrassing situation.
Buhari Never In Government
He said, “Buhari was never in government to do anything; his aim was just to be a civilian president like Olusegun Obasanjo. After he won the election, he just relaxed. He was in government for the fun of it, his ministers weren’t reporting to him but to the Chief of Staff, the late Abba Kyari.
“It was an error for those who brought Buhari to power as he was never the one ruling, he was too relaxed, and he never had any goal to succeed. Buhari’s administration was a colossal waste of the lives of Nigerians, and their time too. He never used to settle quarrels between two ministers rather he will divide the ministry. In essence, he was a total failure and never in government to succeed”.
Adding his voice to the conduct of the 2023 general election, “I do not see the politicians learning any lessons because it’s in their character to behave in such a manner. It is only the electorates that can teach the politicians a lesson. People need to desist from selling their conscience for monetary gains”.
Need To Have Interest In Politics
He further added that Nigerians must be persuaded to play an active role in politics by joining political parties of their choice in order to contribute their quota to the decision-making process affecting the nation.
Comrade Victor further charged the Engr. Seyi Makinde-led government in Oyo State to work on the lapses noticed during his first tenure while urging him to work in partnership with the media for the progress of the state.
Speaking on the current state of journalism in Nigeria, “A journalist is a person who has the requisite training, educational background in Social Sciences or Humanities. He/she must at least have a first degree in Mass Communication and must be registered with the NUJ after satisfying the required qualifications.
“However, today with people gaining direct access to the media via their smartphones and devices, they put information on social media and act as journalists. Sadly, many untrue stories are blown beyond proportion by this so-called social media journalists because no serious journalist will spread unverified information to the public”.
Speaking of his experience as a media assistant to the Minister of Communication, Oluwadamilare said “What I learnt in three years serving the government is greater than what I learnt in 20 years serving as a reporter with the Nigerian Tribune. When you are outside the government, most of the writings are ‘theorized’ and we assume too many things but when you are in government, many things will stare you in the face.
“What I wrote back then at the Nigerian Tribune was different from what I used to write when I got into government. What I saw in government was unbelievable; I stumbled on a lot of information that reshaped my life. I no longer behave like the reporter I used to be in the past. I learnt too much about Nigeria as a country”.
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