The first NEC meeting of the union for the year 2016 was hosted by the Lagos Council on Saturday, April 16, 2016. After exhaustive deliberations at the meeting presided over by the National President, Abdulwaheed Odusile, the meeting that had in attendance, members of the Central Working Committee as well as chairmen and Secretaries of councils resolved as follows:
State of the Nation:
1- The meeting took a critical look at the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last eleven months and expressed dismay at the hardship being presently faced by Nigerians as regards the lingering fuel scarcity and urged the government to rise to the occasion and ensure that the problem is resolved without further delay in order to ameliorate the suffering of the masses. The union specifically expressed dissatisfaction at the avalanche of promises to end the imbroglio without success.
2- NEC-in-Session also sympathises with parents of the abducted Chibok Girls, and urged the federal government to do all within its powers to secure the release of the school children who have remained in captivity for over two years. The union observed that with the latest video released by Boko Haram showing that the girls are still alive,government should ensure that their lives are not further endangered.
3- On the ongoing war against graft, NEC-in-Session commends the present administration on its avowed commitment to rid the country of corruption and urged journalists across the country to be part of the crusade by ensuring that no corrupt person enjoys media protection.
With regards to the Panama’ Papers, NEC urged government to take a second look at those who hide their wealth in offshore companies in order to evade tax. It insists that the government should take a second look at tax laws and bring all taxable Nigerians within the tax net.
4- NEC-in-Session also looked at the lingering impasse between the executive and the legislature with regards to the passage of the 2016 Appropriation Bill and, therefore, urges the presidency and the National Assembly to quickly resolve their differences in the interest of Nigerians.
It also advised that important projects which would have direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians like the Lagos-Calabar rail line be maintained in the budget without further delay.
5- On security, NEC-in-Session commends the armed forces for the obvious improvement in the ongoing fight against insurgency. It advises government not to relent until terrorism is completely stamped out of the country. It also calls for adequate security for people in the IDP camps. On Fulani herdsmen/Farmers crises, NEC calls for urgent government intervention before the situation spirals out of hand. It also sought for a solution to the problem of Cattle rustling.
6- On the rampant cases of kidnappings in the country, NEC urges for concerted efforts to stamp out the menace.
7- On welfare, the Union demands that the issue of payment of salaries should be taken seriously by federal and state governments as well as private sector operators.
State of the Union:
8- The NUJ Elections Petition Committee saddled with the responsibility of handling petitions arising from State Council Elections as well as the NAWOJ and SWAN elections was inaugurated with the Deputy President of the union, Muktar Gidado as Chairman while all the six Vice Presidents are members.
9- The payment of check-off dues as at when due was stressed to ensure that the activities of the union do not suffer.
10- The chairman of Ogun State council, Wole Shokunbi and three others-Modupeola Sobukola, Treasurer, Dauod Olatunji, Vanguard and Wale Oluokun, FRCN were suspended for a period of three months in the first instance for gross indiscipline and disrespect to the office of the President of the NUJ while four other journalists from Osun state council- Michael Olarewaju, Oguntunyi Sunday, Wasiu Ajadosu and Yinka Kolawole were suspended indefinitely for taking the Union to court without first exhausting internal mechanisms of settling dispute.
11- It was also resolved that the annulled Osun Council election should be conducted on or before the end of April 2016.
NEC-in-Session expresses appreciation to the Lagos state government and indeed the Lagos State Council for successfully hosting the meeting without hitches.
Shuaib Usman Leman
Walin Shadalafiya
National Secretary
