Benue NUJ SEC Constitutes Caretaker Committee To Replace Illegally Selected Body
The State Executive Council (SEC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, made up of Chairmen and Secretaries of Chapels, has elected and inaugurated a Caretaker Committee in line with the provisions of the Union’s constitution.
This followed the invoking of Article 5, Section D, Sub (7) (a&b) of the NUJ Constitution at an Emergency Congress by members of the SEC that formed the Benue State Council.
Accordingly, the SEC brought to an end the tenure of one Steve Ijoh, who was illegally selected by the former Acting Chairman of the Benue State Council without following laid down procedure a enshrined in the Constitution of the NUJ which is the body of rules for the Union.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting of the Sec states which was signed by Tor Vande-Acka, Babs Usigbe and Tamenor Kwaghzer states; “After a critical evaluation of the state of affairs of the Union in Benue State and the general wellbeing of members of the Union, SEC resolved to urgently address some of the major issues in order to forestall a total degeneration of the sorry state of affairs being experienced in the Union presently.
“That the Benue State Council of the NUJ is in dire state of despair and disrepair.
“That the alleged imposition of a Caretaker Committee of the NUJ, Benue State Council was illegal, null and void as well as totally at variance with the provisions of the Constitution of the NUJ and the directive of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Makurdi.
“That since the imposition of the Caretaker Committee contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Union, the illegal body acted completely in gross violations of known rules and laws as enshrined in the NUJ Constitution.
“One of such is its refusal to call for the constitutionally enshrined Monthly Congress of the NUJ where decisions are reached for implementation by an Executive Committee. Such a deliberate violation is contrary to Article 5, Section D, (7) (a&b) of the NUJ Constitution.
“SEC particularly frowned at the abuse of power by an illegally constituted committee allegedly led by one Steve Ijoh which unconstitutionally announced the dissolution of an elected Executive Committee of the Voice Newspaper Chapel and even went ahead to drag the Chapel Chairman to the Police without recourse to the organs of the Union.
“The NUJ Benue Council is one out of the 37 State Councils of the NUJ and does not and cannot operate or function in isolation.
“The actions of Steve Ijoh are clearly anti-Union activities. It is curious and difficult to understand where an illegal caretaker derive such powers from, as it totally lacks the power whatsoever and in any material particular to embark on such a voyage.
“SEC is particularly embarrassed and taken aback with so much pain of how an illegal caretaker frequently harasses and demands money from the management of the Union’s schools and therefore stressed the urgent the need to save the schools from imminent collapsed.
“SEC noted with dismay the non-payment of salaries of Staff of the Union for about five months owing to the abuse of financial processes, procedures and maladministration being perpetrated by the illegal caretaker committee that is anything but transparent in its financial dealings.
“SEC expressed concern that the directive for the composition of the Caretaker Committee was not adhered to as required by the NUJ constitution particularly as prescribed in Article 5, sub(c), section 9 sub (c) which states inter alia; “where there is a stalemate in the election at the National Delegates’ Conference, the State Chairmen and Secretaries shall takeover and run the affairs of the Union and conduct fresh elections within three months. Same shall apply in the case of a stalemate in the State Council where Chapel Chairmen and Secretaries shall perform the same functions,” the SEC members resolved.
The SEC meeting further resolved that it was in line with the quoted Constitutional provisions, that it invoked its powers to sack of the 5-member Caretaker Committee, led by Steve Ijoh who were illegally selected without adherence and in keeping to the provisions of the NUJ Constitution.
The SEC members further resolved; “This is in addition to the fact that none of the illegal committee members has held any position at the chapel level to qualify them for Council position. Certainly, an illegality of this magnitude cannot be allowed to subsist as it constitute an aberration and totally alien to the NUJ”.
The SEC which is vested with the powers by the NUJ Constitution to constitute a Caretaker Committee therefore appointed from among its duly elected members, six bona fide officials to man the affairs of the Benue Council of the NUJ pending the determination of the matter before the Court.
The new members of the Caretaker Committee are Mr. Jerry Tyosase – Oracle Chapel as Chairman, John Shiaondo (Correspondent Chapel) – Secretary with Grace Ichakpa of NTA Chapel, Paul Otumala of The Prime Chapel and Irene Onehi of the Information Chapel as members.
SEC accordingly directed the new Caretaker Committee to as a matter of urgency write the Banks in which the Union’s accounts are domiciled as well as the management of NUJ schools to forthwith, discontinue any form of transaction(s) with the illegal but now disbanded Caretaker Committee led by Steve Ijoh.
The SEC also urged the new Caretaker Committee to address the issue of non-payment of salaries of staff of the Union to enable them continue to render needed services in the overall benefit and interest of all.
It specifically appealed to members of the public for their kind understanding and cooperation while it strife to recover the structures of the NUJ from some meddlesome interlopers.
Babs Usigbe Tamenor Kwaghzer
Interim Chairman Interim Secretary
