By John Onwa, Abuja
Contrary to reports in some media outlets that the current executives of Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT Council have been impeached by members of the council, during last the council meeting in Abuja on Saturday, the chairman and the secretary of the council Osaretin Osadebamwen and Ochiaka Ugwu Secretary respectively, have come out strongly to maintain that that they are still the authentic executives of the council.
In a press statement on Sunday, the duo maintained that the purported impeachment as alleged by some section of aggreved members of the union, because of the fallout in last Saturday’s congress that ended in chaos was ” akin to the January 6th, 2021 insurrection in the United States, where mobsters sought to overturn democracy, constitutional law, and order but utterly failed just as in the instance case.”
The press statement reads in full:
The attention of the State Working Committee (Executive) of the NUJ FCT Council has been drawn to a news item that unfortunately has been carried by even some respectable media organisations of its purported impeachment.
Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is akin to the January 6th, 2021 insurrection in the United States, where mobsters sought to overturn democracy, constitutional law, and order but utterly failed just as in the instance case.
The parameters to remove the SWC of the NUJ are set out in Article 5 “Organs of the Union.”
Article 5 Part C 10a-b states:
“10. (a). The Central Working Committee (CWC) shall, upon a vote of no confidence by two- thirds (2/3) majority of votes of members of the National Executive Council (NEC) be dissolved. This shall, however, be based on proven allegations of anti-union activity, maladministration, financial impropriety, misconduct and commission of crimes capable of dragging the name of the union into disrepute.
“However, before the vote of no confidence is cast, the allegations shall be investigated by a panel and the CWC members given the opportunity to defend themselves in keeping with Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
“(b). Where the CWC is so dissolved, the National Secretary shall immediately notify the State Council Chairmen and Secretaries who shall take over and run the affairs of the Union and conduct elections within three months.”
How does this section pertain to the FCT SWC? Part E of the above article states: “1 (g). The State Executive Committee (SEC) shall comprise members of the SWC as well as Chairmen and Secretaries of all Chapels in the State Council of the Union.
“(h). The SEC shall perform similar functions as NEC at the State Council level. SWC shall perform similar functions as the CWC at the State Council level.”
The SWC is not unaware of the desperation of a few individuals who are unwilling to follow due process and put their vaunted popularity to the test over certain fatal flaws in their ambitions.
While the SWC has been restrained owing to its avowal to maintain the integrity and peace of the Council which it has enjoyed over the past six years, it will resist every attempt to drag the Union into disrepute by any individual or persons, however, highly placed.
The SWC wishes to appeal to media organisations especially some broadcast stations to be circumspect in their reportage of issues relating to the council and not be caught in the crosshairs of misinformation.
Osaretin Osadebamwen
Chairman
Ochiaka Ugwu Secretary
