By Ben Adaji, Jalingo
The Taraba State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has declared an indefinite boycott of all state government activities, citing systematic exclusion and a growing culture of media repression by the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas.
The decision followed an emergency congress of the Chapel in Jalingo, where members unanimously condemned what they described as a calculated attempt to sideline the press.
The union pointed to recent high-profile events—including the Taraba International Investment Summit (TARAVEST) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit—from which its members were deliberately excluded.
In a strongly worded resolution, the Chapel accused the Kefas-led government of gagging the press, undermining accountability, and operating in secrecy. It described the state’s media handling as a threat to democracy and a blatant violation of the principles of good governance.
The union also passed a vote of no confidence in the Commissioner for Information, Zainab Usman Jalingo, describing her as “a misfit for the office”. The condemnation followed her public comments justifying the exclusion of journalists and her alleged role in barring the Chapel from a recent government-organized road walk.
“The actions of the Commissioner and this government are not only an insult to the media but a deliberate attempt to silence the press and deny the public access to truthful reporting,” the statement read.
While reaffirming its constitutional duty as the watchdog of society, the Chapel vowed to remain steadfast in holding public officials accountable despite government hostility.
The union further criticized the state government’s performance, stating that Governor Kefas has failed to deliver tangible development, noting that not a single kilometre of road has been constructed, nor has any notable infrastructure project been completed in his two years in office.
“This administration is running on empty PR. The media blackout is a cover for a lack of performance,” the Chapel declared.
The Chapel called on the public to resist government efforts to control the narrative and promised to continue its journalistic duty without fear or favor.