NAWOJ NEC Wields Big Stick On Recalcitrant Members
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), rose from its meeting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital with a directive to its Chairperson in Rivers State, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, to tender an unreserved apologies to the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, for all the derogatory and repugnant comments she posted on various social media platforms against the person of the NUJ President and the Union during the period ahead of the October 2021 NUJ Triennial National Delegates Conference in Umuahia, Abia State.
The NAWOJ NEC equally directed Serekara-Nwikhana to retract all the derogatory comments which she must publish in all the social media platforms she posted her scandalous comments within seven days or face disciplinary action.
It also admonished the former Chairperson of the Association in Imo State, Vivian Ottih for still parading herself as Chairperson of NAWOJ in the State after she lost her re-election bid, stressing that if she continues to impersonate as the Imo State Chairperson of NAWOJ, the Association would be left with no option than to report and hand her over to security agencies for necessary action.
Accordingly, the NAWOJ NEC slammed Ottih with a suspension for acts of impersonation unbecoming of a member of the Association.
Similarly, NAWOJ NEC in session took a critical loot at the stagnation of activities in Enugu State chapter of the Association in the past one year as a result of the ill health of the State Chairperson among other issues raised against her, and directed the Chairperson, Chinyere Mgboh, to hand over the mantle of leadership to the vice chairperson within 14 days or face suspension.
These were contained in a communique issued at the end of the NEC meeting and signed by the National Secretary of NAWOJ, Helen Udofa.
Accordingly, NAWOJ NEC approved the setting up and inauguration of a 3-member Ethics and Disciplinary Committee made up of its National Financial Secretary, Adeola Adekunle, as Chairman and the Chairperson of Akwa Ibom NAWOJ, Uduak Utip Ekong and the Secretary of Kano State NAWOJ, Wasilah Ladan as members, with a mandate to handle issues of indiscipline and gross misconduct within the Association.
NEC also resolved that state chapters must adopt all press statements issued by the National Secretariat on national issues, while press releases by state chapters must be limited to issues peculiar to their states.
NAWOJ NEC pointedly barred State Secretaries from calling for monthly Congresses without the knowledge and approval of the State Chairpersons.
The NEC in session particularly frowned at what it described as the “indiscriminate issuance” of awards to individuals by state chairpersons without recourse to the National Secretariat, warning that henceforth, all state chapters must liaise with the National Secretariat for approval before issuing any award.
