TARABA JOURNALISTS DECRY APPOINTMENT OF BAR ZAINAB AHMED JALINGO AS COMMISSIONER, CITE INCOMPETENCE AND DISRESPECT
The appointment of Zainab Ahmed Jalingo as Taraba State Commissioner for Information and National Orientation has sparked significant unrest among journalists in the state, marking a historic low in media-government relations. For the first time in Taraba’s history, the government has appointed an individual with no prior media experience to oversee this critical portfolio, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and accusations of incompetence.
Since her appointment, Zainab Ahmed Jalingo has been criticized for fostering a divisive environment within the state’s media space. Journalists accuse her of employing a “divide and rule” strategy, prioritizing social media handlers over mainstream media and undermining the state’s publicity efforts. This approach has reportedly led to significant setbacks in promoting government programs and policies effectively.
The Commissioner has also been accused of overstepping her role by usurping the responsibilities of the Special Assistant on Media and the Chief Press Secretary. By centralizing media-related duties, including policy formulation and execution, she has sidelined experienced media aides, resulting in ineffective publicity for the administration of Governor Kefas Agbu.
Tensions reached a breaking point during preparations for President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Taraba on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Taraba State, alongside local media practitioners, accused the Commissioner of deliberately denying them accreditation to cover the presidential visit. This exclusion prompted the NUJ to declare a boycott of all state government functions, including the presidential event, in protest of what they describe as Zainab’s “gross incompetence” and “deliberate isolation” of the independent press.
At an emergency meeting held on Tuesday in Jalingo, the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel passed a vote of no confidence in Zainab’s leadership, describing her as “incompetent, harsh, unfriendly, and beyond control” toward the media. The union alleged that her actions have consistently cast the Agbu administration in a negative light. They further criticized her for attempting to monopolize access to information by restricting other commissioners and government agencies from engaging with journalists, claiming sole authority over government communication.
The NUJ highlighted an incident where Zainab reportedly told a group of journalists—who have served the state voluntarily for years—that their efforts would never be recognized during her tenure. The union emphasized that their prolonged silence should not be mistaken for weakness but rather as an act of patience, which has now been exhausted.
In a resolution signed by Mr. Charles Akpeji, Chairman of the Resolution Drafting Committee, the NUJ expressed outrage at the state government’s failure to rein in the Commissioner. They accused her of misusing government funds allocated for media activities, which has contributed to the declining popularity of Governor Agbu’s administration. The union urged the governor to replace Zainab with an experienced journalist to restore professionalism and foster better relations with the media for the sake of good governance.
The NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel and the Independent Media Publishers of Taraba State have called on Governor Agbu to act swiftly to address these grievances, warning that continued neglect could further strain the relationship between the government and the press, to the detriment of the state’s image and progress.
