By Abdullahi Idris, Bauchi The concerned members of the Bauchi state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists have explained...
By Abdullahi Idris, Bauchi
The concerned members of the Bauchi state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists have explained that they dragged the Union to the Court to protect the constitution of the union and the Integrity of the Institution.
In a statement, the leader of the group Malam Abdulwahab Muhammad said the concerned members have nothing against anybody rather they are only seeking for justice, and fairness and ensure that due process is followed in the activities of the union.
He said the problems started after the amendment of the constitution of the union on 24th January 2023, saying that the SWC has failed to provide the constitution for members to go through.
The statement said as the state council election is approaching, the SWC nominated the credentials committee and smuggled the names to the State Congress, and used mob action style to approve the nominees contrary to the constitutional provision.
According to the statement, despite the request to the SWC to make the constitution available to members, yet, they failed to oblige.
The statement further said after going through the constitution the members observed that the SWC has violated the document in the nomination of the credentials committee, stressing that page 13 section D of the Constitution has clearly explained that only the Congress is responsible for nominating credentials committee subject to the approval of the national secretariat.
Furthermore, the statement said the officer that presided over the Congress was from the Ministry of Information chapel where he retired from service on 16th September 2022 as Assistant Chief Executive Officer Information, and the amended constitution in article 8 page 29 allows him to remain in office for six months, which expired on 16th March, but he didn't vacate the office, he lead the congress that produced the credentials committee.
Also, the three years tenure of the present SWC expired on the 13th of June 2023, because they were sworn in on the 13th of ne 2020, and by NUJ tradition where the tenure of SWC expires, the National secretariat will dissolve the SWC and appoint a caretaker committee as they did to Ibrahim Muhammad Malam Goje led SWC.
The statement recalled that Malam Goje had inaugurated the credentials committee led by a respected Journalist Umar Muhammad Shira on 6th January 2020, the committee completed all arrangements for the election the tenure of SWC ended they were dissolved immediately.
Since we are aware Justice is for all without discrimination, we try to follow all internal mechanisms of our great Union, we asked the national leadership to intervene and ensure that journalists in the state follow the guidelines of the constitution
According to the statement, the plaintiffs and other members of the Union have no option in our quest to protect the integrity of our union and the institution than going to court.
There were allegations that the SWC connived with the SWC-nominated credentials committee, and advisory committee to manipulate and allow the SWC to return to their seat unopposed, that was the reason why they didn't make the constitution available and sponsored the advisory committee to start campaigning for their return un oppose.
Whatever happened if due process is followed is enough to give all members a level playing ground to participate because as Journalist we need legitimate leaders of our choice, not leaders who will return through undemocratic tenents and all members who has interest are eligible to contest but they cant contest without knowing the guidelines in the constitution.
No comments