NUJ NEC Resolutions: Facts Are Sacred

It has become expedient to respond to some FAKE and malicious propaganda by a faceless group masquerading as members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). If really such characters are members of the Union, then it can be better imagined.

How can a journalist, who knows his onions, deliberately go out of his way to misrepresent facts to the right-thinking members of the public with regards to the resolutions arrived at the NUJ NEC held last Saturday, August 7, 2021? It is really sad and appalling, to say the least.

By our style, we do not respond to petty and pedestrian issues laced with bias and falsehood. However, as concerned members, who believe strongly in the corporate goals and image of our great union, we are left with no choice but to put the records straight to avert the intention of mischief makers from misinforming the right thinking members of the public of what actually transpired at the last NEC.

It is trite to state that the NEC as the highest decision-making organ of the NUJ, (next only to the Delegates Conference), is democratic in its processes and decisions, with all members having the opportunity to air their views without let or hindrance. These democratic tenets were in display in all the processes that led to all the decisions taken at the NEC, see Article 5 (b) (1) of the NUJ Constitution.

It is a notorious fact going by the NUJ Constitution that the President of the union presides over the meetings of the Central Working Committee (CWC), the National Executive Committee (NEC), and also the Delegates Conference which superintends over the policy direction of the Union, as he is the elected officer charged with the powers to preside over the affairs of the Union. See Article 5 (c) (1) of the NUJ Constitution.

NOW TO THE MEAT OF THE MATTER
It is a norm within the NUJ that as the lifespan of an administration reaches its crescendo, the union is expected to set up the Credentials Committee to conduct elections into the various national offices.

At the NEC in question, all the Vice Presidents from all the six Zones nominated their representatives into the Credentials’ Committee while the National Secretariat nominated three members in line with normal procedure and convention.
Unlike the trending make believe by the traducers of the union whose stock in trade is blackmail, the venue of the next Triennial Delegates Conference was a purely NEC decision without the interference of the President of the union.

We are quick to point out that as usual for the hosting of the Conference, the meeting allowed State Councils to bid for it because of the enormous funds required. Abia State Council was the only Council that vied for it with letter of commitment and approval by the state government to host. But at the prompting of the Vice President of Zone F, Comrade Edward Ogude, who could not get any state within his zone to host, requested the FCT Council to host, an invitation that was promptly and jointly turned down by the Chairman and Secretary of the FCT, saying they were not prepared to host. At this stage, no other State Council bided safe Abia Council.

The NEC therefore approved the bidding proposed by the Abia State Council through an overwhelming voice votes with no dissension even from the proponent of the FCT hosting.

ELECTION TIME FRAME
The Union’s constitution is very explicit on this as Article 6 (1) states inter-alia “A candidate for election into any of the National and State Offices shall be nominated and sponsored by two financial members of his Council or Chapel filling a prescribed form. The form with two passport photographs of the candidate and his Curriculum Vitae with photocopies of credentials shall be forwarded to the National Secretary to reach him NOT LATER THAN three months in the case of national officers and six weeks for state council offices before the date of the elections”.

We aver that the keywords here are “not later than” which interpretatively does not make the three months sacrosanct but could be held within and before the three months. The last Triennial Delegates Conference in Abeokuta, was held within two months of the inauguration of the committee same as this rule of NOT LATER THAN was observed.

To put the records straight for those who believe in truth and not falsehoods, it is appropriate to remind us that the 2018 Electoral Committee was inaugurated two months to the election, precisely on July 25, 2018 while election was fixed for 26th -29th September 2018. It was later shifted by one week (3rd-5th October) as a result of political parties’ state primaries that took place on September 29, 2018. Even at that, it was still less than three months. These are proven facts that are well documented.

Sadly, the mischief makers are proposing extension of tenure, which the Chris Isiguzo leadership is not interested in. That a bad precedence is being corrected, we think the NUJ leadership should be commended for this.

ALLEGED GERRYMANDERING ON DELEGATES’ LIST
It is a fact that the National Secretariat does not give additional delegates to Councils without requests and evidence of additional chapels.

In the last three years, 12 Councils which met the criteria had their list adjusted in line with the new Chapels they inaugurated.
But, the mischief makers mentioned just four states in the South East and South South just to confuse the unsuspecting members of the Union and public.

Interestingly, they refused to mention the following state Councils that equally had their delegates’ list adjusted upward in accordance with new chapels they applied for. The States include: Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Bayelsa, Gombe, Kogi and Nasarawa. These were in addition to the four states mischievously stated by the fake news carriers.

It is appropriate to remind ourselves as journalists that in our journalistic parlance, that facts are sacred and opinions are free.
As leaders, we are committed to the corporate goals of our great Union and we refuse to be lured into the arena of the confused state.

We humbly present the facts and NOT the disjointed figment of the imagination of some elements that could be well described as meddlesome interlopers. This, we do to correct their erroneous impression.

Let the truth prevail.

AMOS DUNIA
Chairman
Isiguzo-Alhassan etal Campaign Council
August 9, 2021