NUJ LIFTS EMBARGO ON ELECTIONS, MANDATE CHAPELS TO ELECT NEW EXECUTIVES WITHIN 14 DAYS

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone B, and the State Executive Council (SEC) of Ogun State Council of NUJ rose from its special meeting held yesterday at the Iwe Iroyin hall with a communiqué to move the union in the right direction.

The SEC meeting which was attended by representatives of ten out of the the twelve existing chapels in Ogun NUJ was chaired by the NUJ Vice President, Comrade Cosmos Oni. Also present at the meeting was the Secretary, Comrade Bamigbola Gbolagunte.

The Vice president announced at the meeting that the embargo placed on conducts of elections by the National secretariat has been lifted and directed all chapels whose executives tenure had lapsed to conduct election within the next 14 days, failure of which will lead to the dissolution of such chapels’ executives and caretaker Committee inaugurated in such chapel.

The zonal leadership of the union also informed that the National Secretariat mandated the visit to ascertain the developments in the council, reconcile the council’s account regarding the payment of check off dues and facilitates elections in chapel’s due for it.

The Zonal leaders affirmed the legitimacy of the caretaker committee in the state noting that the committee is in charge of the state council affairs while stressing that every chapels in Ogun council should cooperate with the caretaker committee in the interest of peace.

The SEC in session frowned at the absence of the representatives of the State Information and NOA Chapels at the meeting.

Chapels were encouraged to pay their check off dues to the National, Zone, State and NLC separately while those owing check off dues after explanations promised to remit accordingly and ensure prompt payment forthwith.

The Ogun State NAWOJ was advised by the SEC in session to properly liaise with the State Council on their election as done by SWAN to ensure seamless transition.

After thorough deliberation on Newsdirect Chapel, SEC in session approved that the chapel, having failed to conduct elections in the last seven years, failed to remit check off dues in the same period and with the inability to meet up with the constitutionally required number of members to make up a chapel in the last screening exercise conducted by the national Secretariat of the union stand de-chapelised and cease to exist as a chapel in Ogun State Council of NUJ. (Three persons voted for the chapel to be given a second chance while seven persons voted for the chapel to cease to exist.)

The four legitimate members of the proscribed News Direct chapel were advised to join the Federated chapel.
12. The SEC in session approved that the list of screened members arrived at after the last screening exrcise will be used for chapel’s election.

SEC in session was also informed that a committee will soon visit all chapels and the state council to take inventory of all assets of the union.

The communiqué was drafted and signed by Biodun Ogundipe, Chairman, Communiqué Drafting Committee (OGBC Chapel), Akin Samuel, Member, Communiqué Drafting Committee (Federated Chapel) and Oluokun Wale, Secretary, Communiqué Drafting Committee.