NUJ: Member rejects Chris Isiguzo-led exco’s plot to extend tenure, asks court for caretaker committee

The Nigeria Union of Journalists has been taken before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, over alleged violations of some provisions of its constitution.

The claimant who is a member of the Union, Mr. Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, averred that the NUJ National Executive Council meeting held on the 9th of August 2024, lacked the power to extend the tenure of the members of the Central Working Committee whose tenure is expected to terminate on October 6, 2024.

The claimant relied on Article 5(a)(3) of NUJ Constitution which states: “The Triennial National Delegates’ Conference shall be held every three (3) years at venues to be decided by the NEC for the purposes of: (a). Receiving and reviewing reports and accounts; (b). Revising the Constitution if and when necessary; (c). Deciding on questions of general policy raised upon notice by any member, Chapel or Council to the National Executive Council through the National Secretariat of the Union; (d). Electing National Officers of the Union.”

The Chris Isiguzo-led Central Working Committee members were elected on the 7th October, 2021 with the mandate of a three year tenure which lapses on 6th October, 2024.

The claimant affirmed that the tenure elongation orchestrated by Chris Isiguzo, who is also a respondent in the matter was a gross abuse of the constitution of the NUJ.

In the averments filed by the counsel for the claimant, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, (SAN), the claimant posited that tenure elongation was strange to the NUJ Constitution and a self-induced constitutional crisis by Chris Isiguzo-led CWC members to perpetuate themselves in office.

The claimant who is also a practicing journalist based in Kaduna, is praying the court to dissolve the CWC of the NUJ in the overall interest of the Union.

The tenure of the members of the Central Working Committee of the NUJ according to the extant Constitution of the Union, ends on the 6th of October, 2024.

In the court processes filed on 10th of September, 2024 and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the claimant argued that the leadership of the Union deliberately violated the NUJ Constitution by not putting in place the Credentials Committee three months before the expiration of its tenure as provided for in the Constitution.

On this averment, the claimant is relying on Article 5(9) (a) of the NUJ Constitution which states: “There shall be a Credentials Committee, which shall be put in place three months before the expiration of the tenure of the subsisting Central Working Committee (CWC) to examine the good financial standing of each registered delegate before the conference and the name of any delegate not in good financial standing shall be withdrawn from the list of delegates.”

Whereas, the leadership of the Union was abreast of the provisions of the Constitution but, deliberately failed to put in place the Credentials Committee on the 6th July, 2024.

The claimant is praying the court to dissolve the Credentials Committee over non-compliance with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution for gross abuse of the Union’s body of laws.

The power of the Credentials Committee to impose humongous amount of three hundred and fifty thousand naira on nomination form for the office of the President and other intending CWC aspirants is also being challenged.

The claimant is also praying the court to allow Chairmen and Secretaries of Councils to take over the affairs of the Union as from the 6th of October, 2024 and put in place machinery for the conduct of the election within three months as provided for in the Constitution.

If this prayer is granted, the claimant believes strongly that a level plain field will be provided for all members of the Union who intend to aspire for elective positions in the Union.

However, the NUJ, in a statement issued by its National Secretary, Achike Chude on Thursday in Abuja, said the allegations leveled by Adubi regarding supposed tenure elongation, suggested a worrying ignorance of the workings of the union.

Chude said in the statement that the request to extend the CWC’s tenure by six weeks was made collectively, in the best interest of the union, not by any individual acting unilaterally.

According to him, the decision followed revelation during the NEC meeting of the NUJ on August 9, 2024, that over 60 percent of the union’s chapels had not met their financial obligations, as required by Article 5(A6) and Article 6(7e) of the NUJ Constitution.

“This presented a real risk of disenfranchising a large number of members from participating in the upcoming Triennial National Delegates’ Conference.

“Recognising this, two respected NEC members moved a motion calling for a six-week extension to give councils time to settle their dues and ensure a fair, inclusive process.

“The motion was unanimously adopted by the meeting attended by 76 out of 101 NEC members,” he did.

Chude added that the NEC approved Imo State as the host for the union conference, contingent upon the readiness of their facilities by November.

“ This decision was based on practical logistics, not personal whims.

“Precedent also supports this action, as previous CWC extensions of two to three months have been granted in similar circumstances, without controversy,” Chude said.

The national secretary said that Adubi’s call for the court to dissolve the CWC and hand over the union’s leadership to council secretaries and chairmen was not only absurd but also contradictory.

Chude said that over 90 percent of the very individuals he wished to take over the union were present at the NEC meeting and part of the decision-making process.

He said that the individuals also supported the motions that established the timeline for the 2024 Triennial Delegates’ Conference, in accordance with the constitution.