The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Gombe state council, has denied any involvement in the bill establishing a Joint Projects Development Agency (JPDA).
The council chairman, Mr. Saidu Malala, gave the clarification in a statement Wednesday in Gombe.
The bill was passed into law by 17 out of the 24 members of the Gombe state House of Assembly on May 28, 2020.
With this law, joint projects between local government and the state government would be on a 40 to 60 per cent ratio.
Malala said the clarification became necessary following the widespread reports that the council was involved in the consultation that followed the passage of the bill.
He said such report was absolutely wrong, misleading and defamatory in nature.
“We were shocked with such a false statement coming from the respected legislative arm of government without necessary clarification,’’ he said.
Malala stated that the council was expecting a formal invitation from the house for the public hearing on the bill, so that the union’s stand could be known.
He said the council was already in consultation with its members, as well as its legal team in order to protect the credibility and professional ethics of the union.
“In that regard, we demand that the house should call to order, the leadership of the joint committee for local government and chieftaincy affairs and the judiciary.
“Issue a written apology to the union within 10 days of receipt of this letter and same apology letter be sent to all media organisations in the state,” he said.
