NUJ Triennial Delegates Conference: Candidates Commend National Advisory Council’s Response To Efforts, Express Disappointment Over Unresolved Key Issues

FCT, ABUJA, NIGERIA – Some members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who are contesting for various leadership roles in the upcoming association elections, have expressed their appreciation for the NUJ National Advisory Council’s efforts.

The council responded to calls from aggrieved parties in anticipation of the Triennial Delegates Conference, scheduled to take place in Owerri, Imo State, from November 26 to 28, 2024.

In a press release jointly e-signed by NUJ presidential aspirant Kris Atsaka, deputy national presidential aspirant Edward Ogude, and deputy national presidential aspirant Wole Shokunbi, the candidates commended past NUJ presidents and the immediate past secretary for attending a recent meeting.

The meeting aimed to address pressing concerns genuinely raised in the interest of the union. The statement was made available to StarTrend International magazine and its online platform.

Despite acknowledging the council’s efforts, the trio raised concerns regarding the outcome of the meeting, which they believe failed to address the core issues presented to the council.

The statement from the aspirants reads as follows:

“Re: Communique issued by the NUJ National Advisory Council meeting.

We have carefully studied the communique issued by the NUJ National Advisory Council meeting held in Abuja on Thursday and Friday, November 7 & 8, 2024 to deliberate on serious issues of concerns affecting the unity and oneness of the Union.

We wish to sincerely commend members of the Council for rising to the clarion call of aggrieved parties in the forthcoming Triennial Delegates Conference scheduled to take place in Owerri, Imo state between November 26 and 28, 2024, all things being equal.

We also salute the courage of the past presidents and immediate past secretary that attended the meeting with a view to finding solutions to disturbing complaints that were genuinely raised in the interest of the union.

We are however, not disappointed with the outcome of the meeting of our past leaders but beg to disagree on its submissions contained in its communique which failed to address the core issues put forward before the Council based on the followings:

(1). The issue of tenure elongation was not in any way addressed, as there was no reason for such even if such illegality had taken place in the past, it cannot be legally justified. The Communique merely danced in the middle and left it hanging, yet, the same Council urged the leadership of the Union to uphold the constitution of the NUJ in the administration of the union.

The extension of tenure by the National Executive Committee, NEC led by the outgoing president, Chris Isiguzo is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

(2). Going by the Communiqué issued by the Council, it is clear that aggrieved members and petitioners were clearly shaved in their absence as no invitation was extended to any of them to appear before the Council even if it means through telephone or Zoom meeting.

Sadly, the Communique asked parties in Court to withdraw their suits as if the Council had such powers without properly mediating in the matter.

The two important issues in Court are illegal tenure elongation and the setting up of the Credentials Committee in clear breach of the provisions of the NUJ Constitution. It was as if the Council deliberately looked the other way at a meeting presided over by a party in the dispute, Chris Isiguzo and also attended by an unqualified member, Gbenga Onayiga, who is known to be campaigning for a candidate and a close ally of Mr Isiguzo.

(3). The fact that the outgoing president, Chris Isiguso, presided over the National Advisory Council meeting in a case he is being accused as the principal actor, speaks volumes. It is akin to a judge presiding over his case. For Presiding over such an important meeting without stepping aside only succeeded in tainting the resolutions of the meeting of the Council.

(4). On the issue of the aspirants that were deliberately outside the provisions of the Constitution, the Council again failed to invite the aggrieved aspirants that called on the past leaders of the union to intervene with a view to avail them the opportunity to state their case themselves. Unfortunately, this was not done as if all that mattered was listening to the outgoing president, which was clearly a one-sided presentation

(5). We the aggrieved aspirants are also genuinely interested in lasting peace and progress of the NUJ. If Mr Isiguso can quickly retrace his steps in the Bayelsa Council crisis and adopted a political solution to allow for the court case to be withdrawn and directing the credentials committee set up by the State Council to allow all aspirants that were disqualified  to contest in the forthcoming state conference of the Council, it goes to state that nothing should equally stop the National Advisory Council from finding a political solution to the imbroglio which has already enmeshed the forthcoming Triennial Delegates Conference by allowing those illegally disqualified at the instance of Mr. Isiguso to take part in the election. When this is done, the Union can be said to genuinely talking of an enduring peace based on justice and equity.

(6). We salute the courage of the advisory council for calling on members to withdraw their cases in the court as was done in Bayelsa council through the intervention of the outgoing president. It is therefore expedient to call on the past leaders, to emulate the political solution proffered in Bayelsa council by implementing the prayers of the litigants for such cases to be withdrawn.

Based on the foregoing, we sincerely thank our past leaders for finding time to come together for the first time in over a decade to try to address issues affecting the NUJ. We pray for such to be sustained so as to serve as checks and balances on the excesses of the leadership of the Union at the national level.

In conclusion, we wish to state categorically that the Council meeting did not address the core and germane issues raised, but only succeeded in leaving the NUJ to stand on a keg of gun powder.

We want to assure you of our esteemed support and cooperation at all times.