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Tag: NUJ

  • Tompolo to bag NUJ merit award

    Tompolo to bag NUJ merit award

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is set to confer a national merit award on Niger Delta freedom fighter, Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo.

    National President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, disclosed this when he led selected journalists to Tompolo’s Oporoza country home in Warri Southwest council area of Delta State, weekend.

    According to him, the award is in recognition of Tompolo’s contributions to relative peace in the oil-rich region, as well as the record-breaking achievements in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism by his firm, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL).

    Read Also: Ogun NUJ demands apology from Adeleke over assault of journalist by security aides

    Accompanied by the National Secretary of the union, Mallam Shuaibu Usman Leman, some national officers, as well as members of the Warri Correspondents’ chapel, Isiguzo revealed that the award would be presented to the activist during the forthcoming annual conference of the Union in Abuja, this February.

    Briefing the ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and some of his aides, the NUJ President said that the leadership of the union arrived at the decision after profiling the activities of Tompolo, including his role in the ensuring peace in the area.

    He pointed out that Tompolo’s surveillance company had restored sanity on the nation’s waterways and kept at bay economic saboteurs and other criminal elements that troubled the Niger Delta.

    Recalling some successes of Tantita in the manhunt for oil theft cabals, especially the recent arrest of MT Kali, caught siphoning crude oil from Pennington Oil field in Bayelsa State, he stated, “with the patriotic zeal of TSSNL in the pursuit of the oil thieves,  the nation’s crude oil production has been on  steady rise which is ultimately pushing the nation on the path of sustainable economic recovery and prosperity.

  • NUJ partners The Drum Online for Drum Festival In Canada

    NUJ partners The Drum Online for Drum Festival In Canada

    The National Headquarters of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has partnered with The Drum Online Media Incorporation, the organisers of the annual Pan-African ‘Drum Festival In Canada.’ 

    The 2024 edition of Pan-Afrika Drum Festival is billed to hold on June 27 and June 28 in Mississauga and Toronto, Canada. 

     This was contained in a statement by Prince Segun Akanni, the convener of the cultural event.  Akanni said the organisation partnered with the NUJ to organise the African Media Nite Out, as part of the activities to celebrate the 2023 edition of the Drum Festival in Canada.

     The NUJ president Dr. Chris Isiguzo disclosed that the union will collaborate with organisers, to kick-off the inaugural edition of Africa Media Nite Out scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at Fuzion Banquet Hall, Mississauga, Canada.

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     “We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the organisation on this remarkable cultural festival. NUJ recognizes the significance of cultural festivals in fostering unity, inclusivity and celebrating the rich and diverse heritage of Africa. The initiative to integrate various African Drum festivals into a unified Pan-Afrika Drum Festival aligns with our core values of unity and promoting African cultural heritage.

    The “Theme, ” Exploring The Dynamism of African Drums and Canadian Multiculturalism for Global Unity, Inclusivity and Development, ” speaks to the heart of multiculturalism and diversity, which are themes we deeply appreciate and advocate.

     “We are honoured to contribute to the success of this festival and The Africa Media Nite Out. We understand the importance of recognising and celebrating Canadian and African journalists who have made remarkable contributions to the field of journalism and the betterment of society,” Dr. Isiguzo stated.

     The grand finale of the festival is billed to hold on Friday June, 28, 2024 at Wesley Hall, Milvan Dr, Toronto. This will be held in commemoration of the Canadian Multicultural Day which is held every June 27.

  • Surgical error: Oyo NUJ blasts NMA over attack on Ayefele

    Surgical error: Oyo NUJ blasts NMA over attack on Ayefele

    The Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has berated the chairman of the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Wale Lasisi, for his tirade against the ace musician, broadcaster, and the proprietor of Fresh FM 105.9, Ibadan Yinka Ayefele.

    Lasisi had, in a statement last week, attacked Ayefele for airing on his chit-chat programme which he co-anchors with another broadcaster ‘Let’s Talk About It’, the case of a woman who went through a caesarian section.

    The doctor who undertook the surgery forgot a sanitary pad in the woman’s stomach thereby causing her serious ill-health for two years.

    The woman was said to be currently in need of urgent medical attention but did not get much from the private hospital in Ibadan which committed the surgical error.

    Frustrated by the attitude of the hospital, the husband was said to have taken the matter to Ayefele’s programme for the attention of the public but that all efforts made by the team of Fresh FM reporters to get the hospital to react or do the needful were unfruitful. Consequently, Ayefele aired the story.

    But Lasisi was said to have described Ayefele as a quack broadcaster, saying he and Fresh FM have no right to air the issue or seek clarification.  He insisted that the case should have been reported to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

    He also demanded a public apology for failure of which he would seek litigation against both parties.

    Reacting, however, the Oyo State Council of NUJ blasted the medic, saying he was displaying arrogance at the expense of human life, adding that his arrogance made the case degenerate to this level by refusing to call on the said doctor and hospital to cooperate in ways that can bring an amicable solution which Ayefele earlier sought.

    The NUJ statement, which was signed by its chairman and secretary Comrades Ademola Babalola and Sola Oladapo respectively, described the statement by the NMA as a volte-face and misguided.

    It read in part: “The NMA chairman, in a reckless statement signed by him, riled against the media discussion of an act of criminal negligence by a doctor who carried out a caesarian section on a woman and left a sanitary pad in the woman’s tummy before sealing her up.

    “The patient developed serious complications after the act of negligence and is currently in dire need of urgent medical intervention to save her life.

    Read Also: Bayelsa NUJ condemns attack on journalists, urges peaceful resolution

    “After the hospital refused to address the complication arising therefrom, the spouse of the patient visited Fresh FM to lay the matter at the public court through the media.

    “As a trained media proprietor, Ayefele dispatched a team of reporters and videographers to investigate the matter and the station even tried to explore the possibility of resolving the matter without bringing it to the public.

    “While the patient and her spouse gave their account of the incident, the hospital (name withheld) blatantly refused to speak or clarify its position.

    “Left with no option but to go public, the matter was discussed on Let’s Talk About It, a popular quasi-Ombudsman chit-chat programme on Fresh FM with Ayefele and Enitan Olusegun Bamidele as co-anchors.”

  • NUJ President urges FG to tackle insecurity

    Mr Chris Isiguzo, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has called on the Federal Government to urgently tackle the challenge of insecurity across the nation.

    He made the call during the National Executive Council Meeting of NUJ in Umuahia, the Abia capital, on Friday.

    Isiguzo said that the Union was so much worried and therefore charged the government to rise to the occasion.

    According to him, the primary responsibility of a responsible government is to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizenry.

    “The insurgency in the North-East, the armed banditry in the North-West, the herdsmen menace in the North-Central which is overlapping to South-South and South-East, are not good signs that we are making progress.

    “On our part, we give assurance of our assistance and support at all times,” he said

    He pointed that the most excruciating challenge facing journalism today was the safety and impunity of offence committed against journalists.

    He emphasized that safety also extended to the workers’ welfare, adding that an employee that was not well remunerated would be exposed to all sorts of hazards.

    Isiguzo said that the NUJ had put in place several measures including National Monitoring Network on Safety of Journalists, which efforts were being complemented at the state councils’ level.

    Read Also: PANDEF: cattle colonies will worsen insecurity

    He commended the Abia Government for the efforts deployed so far towards ensuring the safety of the citizenry.

    The NUJ boss, however, called for collaboration between the state and security apparatus, particularly in the area of intelligence information gathering.

    While declaring the conference open, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu thanked newsmen for doing their jobs equitably to safeguard the country.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Ude Okochukwu, urged newsmen to continue to do their best by reporting on those areas that would bring about national unity and integration.

    “Let’s try as much as possible to de-emphasize those areas that will tear us apart as a people,” he implored.

    He said that the state government, on its part, would continue to do its best towards the safety and security of the citizenry.

    The governor noted that the state had a wonderful collaboration with the security agencies.

    According to him, Abia is rated as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

    Earlier in his remarks, Mr John Emejor, the Chairman of NUJ, Abia council, appealed to the state government to help facilitate the completion of the council’s permanent secretariat.

    He said that Abia was the only council in the country with no befitting secretariat.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion was chaired by Mr Raph Egbu, former Secretary to Abia Government.

    (NAN)

  • Court restrains NUJ from conducting women journalists’ election

    •NAWOJ ignores court order stopping poll
    •The Nation, The Sun, others barred from voting

    A National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos yesterday restrained the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) and four others from conducting yesterday’s National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) election, following an application by a contestant.

    Justice R. H. Gwandu made the order after hearing a motion ex parte filed and argued by Omotayo Olatunbosun, a counsel representing a NAWOJ chairmanship contestant, Mrs Sekinah Lawal.

    The judge granted the application and ordered the stoppage of the poll, which was scheduled for yesterday morning, pending the determination of Lawal’s suit.

    Joined as first to sixth defendants in the suit are: Ekene Adeola, the Registered Trustees of the NUJ, Ifeyinwa Omowole, Ladi Bala, Mrs Abiola Beckley and Mrs Yemisi Adeniran.

    The interim injunction restrained the respondents from recognising Adeola as chairperson candidate in the election.

    It also restrained the body responsible for the conduct of the election from going ahead with it.

    After granting the prayers, the judge ordered that the defendants be put on notice and ordered an accelerated hearing of the suit.

    Justice Gwandu also warned parties that any attempt of omission or commission concerning the order could be treated as contempt of court.

    The matter was adjourned till May 30.

    Also, the Electoral Committee, led by Abiola Beckley, prevented the court bailiff from serving them the court order.

    Upon arrival at the Eko FM voting venue in Ikeja, the court bailiff was prevented from serving the committee by men of the Department of State Security (DSS) and policemen, led by Adekunle Oyewole.

    Some women from the Lagos State Ministry of Information also joined the security agencies to prevent the bailiff from entering the venue.

    The women maltreated the bailiff and some journalists who urged them to let the man do his job.

    The bailiff left after spending over four hours without being able to serve the injunction.

    Also, in her May 22 affidavit in support of the application, Mrs Lawal averred that Adeola was ineligible to participate in the polls, having been disqualified by a seven-man Electoral Committee which screened the candidates for the election.

    The applicant averred that upon constitution of the Electoral Committee under the chairmanship of Grace Ekpoanwan Achum, the electoral committee screened all the candidates for the respective offices and cleared only candidates that met the requirements of the NUJ Constitution.

    She added: “Regarding the forthcoming election to the office of the chairperson, the electoral committee duly screened three candidates: the first defendant, Patience Eloh Okoh and myself, after which the committee determined that I am the only candidate eligible to contest for the post of chairperson, having met the requirement of the NUJ constitution.

    “Subsequent to the above list of screened candidates, a final list of cleared candidates was issued by the electoral committee, and in the said list, I was the only person cleared to contest the office of the chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the 2019 election of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists.

    “The first defendant was not cleared to contest due to the fact that she did not meet the requirements of Article 6(6)(i) and (ii) of the Constitution (non-payment of professional fee and less than 50 per cent attendance of meetings).”

    Mrs Lawal said the national body of NAWOJ, by a May 3 letter, purportedly cleared all contestants to contest the election, which, according to her, it had no authority to do.

    “The national body of NAWOJ does not have the power to waive the provision of Article 6 of the NUJ Constitution for any contestant,” she said.

    Also, journalists from some media houses were prevented from voting.

    They include The Nation, The Sun, Lagos Television (LTV) and The Guardian.

    The committee said they did not pay the N3,000 charges per voter. No explanation was given to what the money was meant for.

    Precious Igbonwelundu, a Senior Correspondent with The Nation, described the N3,000 as unconstitutional.

    “Traditionally, NUJ’s check-off dues are paid through direct deductions from individual members and remitted through their chapels to the NUJ state council. Asking the women journalists to pay N3,000 is another form of corruption.

    “Some women from the Ministry of Information boasted that their ministry had paid the N3,000 for each one of them. An election that was meant to be organised in a democratic way, but the committee disenfranchised us after our money had been deducted from our salaries,” she said.”

    Miss Igbonwelundu noted that the committee installed by NAWOJ President Ifeyinwa Omowole, who is allegedly enmeshed in fraud case, took sides with some chapels.”

     

    “They were obviously biased. They have no regards for the NUJ constitution. They set aside provisions that they felt would work against their interest and decided to implement the ones that favour them. This is against the interest of the generality of women journalists,” she said.

     

  • Egbemode seeks synergy between NGE, NUJ

    The President of Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Mrs. Funke Egbemode, has called for synergy between the guild and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    She insisted that such synergy would ensure better working conditions and welfare for journalists operating in Nigeria.

    Mrs. Egbemode, who is also the Managing Director of New Telegraph Newspapers, noted that increased working relationship between the NGE and NUJ would be of a great benefit to journalism as a profession.

    The NGE president said there should be fraternity between NGE and NUJ to enable both bodies gain mutual respect and redeem journalism’s image from ridicule and intimidation from external forces.

    According to her, the NGE administration has been advocating mutual understanding and operation between NGE and NUJ.

    She urged stakeholders of the two professional bodies to think towards this direction.

    Mrs Egbemode hailed the Kano State Council of the NUJ for conducting themselves “in a more mature and professional way”.

    She added: “The Kano NUJ has remained pace-setters across the country. I am glad with what you are doing.

    “The only place we saw this kind of maturity and excellent relationship between NGE and NUJ was in far-away China, not knowing it is highly workable in our own country.”

    The Kano State NUJ Chairman Abbas Ibrahim praised Mrs Egbemode for her giant strides in office.

    The chairman urged her not to relent in the efforts to re-brand journalism in Nigeria.

    He said: “Today in the world of journalism, Mrs Funke Egbemode is a success story and a source of inspiration. Her qualities should be imbibed for better journalism practice.”

    A former Director of Press in Kano State and senior journalist Sule Yau Sule said: “Today, what is actually missing is that sound relationship between working journalists on the ground and their editors. If that is achieved, the practice would tremendously improve for the better.”

  • NAPTIP partners NUJ to battle human trafficking

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related offences (NAPTIP) has called for collaboration with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the fight against human trafficking in Sokoto state.

    NAPTIP Zonal Commander in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Mr Tahir Hassan, said this yesterday when he led officials of the agency on a visit to NUJ Sokoto State council.

    Hassan said the partnership with journalists was necessary in view of the important role they play in Information dissemination as well as sensitising residents of the state on the dangers associated with human trafficking.

    He explained that the usual cases rampant in the zone include child abuse, exploitation and maltreatment of minors that sometimes come with bodily injuries.

    The NAPTIP commander said that partnership with stakeholders was among the agency’s working direction as others included prevention and prosecution.

    He said the public awareness on the agency’s mandates were desirable at all times.

    Hassan also said the agency recorded five convictions last year while a number of cases were still pending before the Federal High Court.

    The commander further said that the agency successfully rescued hundreds of trafficked victims who were rehabilitated and reunited with their respective families.

    He said it was regrettable that traffickers had adopted states in the zone as a transit route in spite of the agency’s sustained onslaught on them in collaboration with other sister agencies and relevant stakeholders.

    He described NUJ as one of the critical stakeholders in the struggle because the media’s role was to educate, enlighten and sensitise the public.

    “We believe, you will help us sensitise the public on the danger of trafficking, this is the reason why we are here to solicit for your support and cooperation,” Hassan added.

    Responding, the chairman of the Sokoto state council of NUJ, Malam Isa Shuni, challenged the agency to redouble its effort in eradicating the menace.

    Shuni noted with dismay how some parents give out their children to be used as housemaids or servants, which in most cases lead to their exploitation and abuse.

    “This is very sad because they are being denied the right to acquire education and become meaningful persons to the society,” he said.

  • NUJ and Buhari’s second term

    FOR the umpteenth time, President Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigerians improvement and positive change in his second term. It is expected that the improvement will be evident when juxtaposed with his first term. During their visit to Aso VIlla last week, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) challenged the president to raise the level of his achievements considerably. Promising to do just that, the president appreciated the role journalists play in nation building and, as expected, listed some of his achievements in security, economy and the war against corruption. His visitors acknowledged his efforts but wanted him to do much more in tackling intolerance and redressing lopsided appointments.

    But the problem with President Buhari’s promises is not that he makes promises and deliberately and malevolently breaks them, but that his conception of the promises are sometimes fundamentally different from the rest of the country’s, and his standards of measurement or interpretation of success takes on worrisome variance. Does the president, for instance, believe his appointments are lopsided? In his first term, he spent a better part of it arguing that no lopsidedness existed in his appointments. As proof of his unimpeachable methods, he advised his critics to look at his cabinet where the constitution enjoins him to engage some balance. He does not see his one-sided security appointments, which critics often point at, and which the constitution does not make mandatory, as an example of imbalance.

    Does the president consider his government as subverting the rule of law? Not at all. He thinks the rule of law is a luxury that Nigeria’s tenuous national security cannot afford, as he has repeatedly argued. He seems to imagine both himself and his government as the lawgiver that transcends or at worst personifies the law. Asked shortly after he was re-elected how his second term would look like, he said it would be marked with taking tough decisions. The country was left to guess what kind of tough decisions he was referring to: tough actions against his opponents or critics, or tough in terms of the measures past leaders had been afraid to take? And does his appreciation of the role of journalists imply that he would inspire protective measures and enact laws that safeguard the profession of journalism? No one knows; and the president is not elaborating.

    If he is to make any impact, however — and he has a limited time to do that — he will indeed have to take extraordinary measures that underscore the positive change he talks glibly about. If the meaning of positive change is clear to him, he will need to make those desired changes quickly and steadily and hope that he can secure his legacy for all time.

  • Don’t destroy Nigeria with fake news – NUJ tells politicians

    National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Chris Isiguzo, has decried the use of social media influencers by desperate politicians to circulate fake news.

    He said peddling such distorted reports especially during electioneering period were capable of destroying the corporate existence of the country.

    Isiguzo who spoke in Awka, Anambra state enjoined politicians to see election as normal game of winners and losers.

    He said, “In their desperation, they engage in all manner of activities like mudslinging, name calling, character assassination.

    “These are vices you cannot observe in sane climes as witnessed during Nigeria’s recent electioneering campaigns.

    “When politicians begin to see election as normal game of winners and losers, you will see that the spread of fake news will begin to drop.”

    Isiguzo however absolved registered members the union of blame in the fake news spread, attributing the ugly trend to local political actors.

    “It is obvious from experience that local political actors are indeed originators of these fake news; they use those they brand as social media influencers to spread such negative news designed to achieve their desired goals.

    “Journalists do not really engage in ferreting fake news, but these are largely the handiwork of untrained elements, who are just armed with smart mobile phone equipped with data.

    “If you go to the social media and check well, you will not see journalists spreading fake news. The trained ones are aware that fake news is deliberate disinformation,” he added.

    The NUJ boss however, revealed plans by his administration to curb the spread of fake news in Nigeria.

  • NUJ to politicians: Don’t destroy Nigeria with fake news

    National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Chris Isiguzo, has decried the use of social media influencers by desperate politicians to circulate fake news.

    He said encouraging such distorted reports especially during electioneering period were capable of destroying the corporate existence of the country.

    Isiguzo, who spoke in Awka, Anambra state, enjoined politicians to see election as normal game of winners and losers.

    He said, “In their desperation, they engage in all manner of activities like mudslinging, name calling, character assassination.

    “These are vices you cannot observe in sane climes as witnessed during Nigeria’s recent electioneering campaigns.

    “When politicians begin to see election as normal game of winners and losers, you will see that the spread of fake news will begin to drop.”

    Isiguzo however absolved registered members the union of blame in the fake news spread, attributing the ugly trend to local political actors.

    “It is obvious from experience that local political actors are indeed originators of these fake news; they use those they brand as social media influencers to spread such negative news designed to achieve their desired goals.

    “Journalists do not really engage in ferreting fake news, but these are largely the handiwork of untrained elements, who are just armed with smart mobile phone equipped with data.

    “If you go to the social media and check well, you will not see journalists spreading fake news. The trained ones are aware that fake news is deliberate disinformation,” he added.

    The NUJ boss however, revealed plans by his administration to curb the spread of fake news in Nigeria.