Communique Issued At The End Of A Well-attended Emergency Congress Meeting Of The Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council On Friday, September 10, 2021

The Chairman of the Council, Mr. Stanley Job Stanley briefed the Congress on what has happened so far regarding the conduct of election in the state, including the intervention of elders, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command and other stakeholders.

Motions were moved and seconded by members.

Arising from deliberations during the meeting, the Congress of Rivers State Council of NUJ resolved as follows:

1. That the Congress supports the majority decision of 18 out of 21 chapel State Executive Committee (SEC) members to maintain status quo with Stanley Job Stanley as Chairman and Ike Wigodo as Secretary.

2. The Congress passes vote of confidence on Stanley Job Stanley as Chairman and Ike Wigodo as Secretary.

3. The Congress is not aware of setting up of Caretaker Committee under any guise and vows to resist any attempt at doing such.

4. The Congress says no to the reduction of chapels belonging to Rivers State Council of NUJ.

5. The Congress calls on the national secretariat to fix a date for election within 30 days with all 21 registered chapels of Rivers Council of NUJ voting.

6. The Congress passes Vote of Confidence on the Credentials Committee to conduct a free, fair and credible election for a new executive into the Rivers State Council of NUJ.

7. The Congress calls on journalists in the state to remain peaceful and law abiding pending when election is conducted.

8. The Congress frowns at the conduct of some members who in connivance with external collaborators, brought thugs into the NUJ Secretariat and recommends appropriate sanction.

9. The Congress appreciates the efforts of elders and Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka at preferring solutions and calls on them not to relent in their genuine desire to unite all journalists in the state.

10. The Congress commends Governor Nyesom Wike’s push for Rivers State collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) and Fiscal Federalism.

11. The Congress further commends Governor Nyesom Wike for winning Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year award.
 

Signed:

Nnamdi Olimini

Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee

Olalekan Ige

Member, Communique Drafting Committee

Joe Mukoro

Member, Communique Drafting Committee

Ken  Asinobi

Member, Communique Drafting Committee

Awajis George

Member, Communique Drafting Committee

Stanley Job Stanley

Chairman, NUJ Rivers State Council

Ike Wigodo

Secretary, NUJ Rivers State Council