The days of infiltrators in the journalism industry in Nigeria appear to be numbered, as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has concluded plans to capture the bio-data of it’s members.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Special Delegates Conference held in Kano, January 25-26, 2023.
The communiqué which was read by NUJ National Secretary, Shu’aibu Usman Leman, said the Conference approved the development of a website for the union to adequately capture the bio data of members on regular basis for easy identification of accredited practicing journalists in the country.
Recall that the infiltration of quacks into the journalism profession has been a major concern to the NUJ which at various Councils set up special committees to identify infiltrators with a view to bringing sanity into the profession.
The Special Delegates Conference also approved and passed amendments to some provisions of its Constitution which now make First Degree, Higher National Diploma (HND) or its equivalent in Mass Communication and Journalism related courses as the entry qualification for the practice of Journalism in Nigeria and membership of the Union.
It went further to streamline its membership in line with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution. To this end, the Conference after exhaustive deliberations on membership status, delisted and dissolved the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Local Government Information Chapels across the country and directed State Councils to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the approved amendments to the NUJ Constitution.
The special delegates however, approved the membership of journalists working with online media organizations registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and recognized by the National Secretariat of the NUJ.
The Union frowned on the anti-union activities of some members of the NUJ particularly in Abia State Council, said to be causing disaffection among members of NAWOJ and directed those involved to desist or would be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of the Union’s Constitution.
While urging Nigerians to take advantage of the electoral process to elect credible leaders that will steer the ship of State in the next four years, the NUJ viewed with concern the overheating of the polity by politicians through all forms of verbal attacks and use of thugs in electioneering.
It therefore counseled the political class, particularly the presidential candidates of some of the leading political parties to abide by the rules and do away with thuggery before, during and after the general elections.
The delegates commended the indelible imprints of the Ganduje-led administration in evolving good governance and giving the people of Kano State tangible dividends of democracy, even as they praised the governor for providing the enabling and conducive environment for a successful hosting of the Special Delegates’ Conference.
The conference which was declared open by Ganduje, had as its theme: “Conflict Sensitive Reporting and Nigerian Journalism”.
