Delta NUJ Screening Exercise Progressing Well So Far— Committee

By Ambrose Ologide

The Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ekebe, has said that the ongoing screening exercise for members of the union in Delta State has so far been a successful.

Comrade Ekebe made the remark during a telephone chat with our correspondent on Thursday.

Ekebe, who disclosed that the committee had been able to cover 14 out of the 16 chapels at the time of filling this report, remarked that the exercise has been encouraging so far, saying that it showed that members know the import of the exercise as he rated its success so far as 75 percent.

He disclosed that the exercise which commenced on Monday 27th July, 2020 would end on Monday 3rd August, 2020, adding that it will be extended by two days to enable those who missed out during the scheduled period due to ill health or other cogent reasons to be able to partake in the exercise.

Speaking further, Comrade Ekebe said that after the two days extension, the committee would compile a register for members of the union in Delta State within two weeks and that the said register will be sent to all the chapels for claims and objections and not for registration of new entrants.

According to him, after this stage of the exercise, a compendium would be produced for the election of executives of the council.

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When asked about the challenges faced by the committee so far, he said that it was stressful going to the various chapels across the state for the exercise.

Furthermore, he disclosed that some unqualified persons wanted the committee to bend the rules and vowed that the committee would not compromrise, stressing: “Our reputation and integrity are at stake.”

He however solicited the support of members for the committee to succeed, saying that the success of the committee would be beneficial to the union.

The Chairman of the committee, Comrade Sonia Unobunjo had earlier in a telephone chat with our correspondent noted that some members had different mindsets about the exercise.

She however assured that the committee would be fair to all members, affirming, “It has been so far, so good. We are progressing.”

It would be recalled that the caretaker committee was elected by chairmen and secretaries of all the chapels in the state on Thursday 9th July, 2020 with the mandates of the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Mr Charles Aniagwu to compile a credible compendium and also conduct a credible election for the council within three months.