NUJ Upgrades, Jacks-Up Union’s Professional Qualification

Apparently to enhance professionalism and attain a greater height for practicing journalists and journalism profession in Nigeria, the entry qualifications for membership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has been upgraded.

This was part of reviews in the just-concluded Special Delegate Conference of the union held in Kano State under the leadership of Chief Isiguzo Chris, the National President of the union.

Based on the current review constitution of the union, instead of National Diploma (ND), the minimum entry qualifications for journalism practice in Nigeria is now First Degree and Higher National Diploma or its equivalent, according to statement released at the end of the conference in Kano,

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“Minimum of First Degree, Higher National Diploma (HND) or its equivalent in Mass Communications and journalism-related courses is the entry qualification for the practice of journalism in Nigeria and with a working experience of not less than 12 months in a recognized media establishment.

“Membership of the union shall equally be accorded to a graduate of any other discipline with cognate experience in the practice of journalism in a recognized media organization, 10 years before 2023, with Diploma in Journalism from a recognized educational institution.

“Conference in session delisted and dissolved the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Local Government Information Chapels across the country,” it stated.

On the social or new media, popularly known as Online Media, the conference approved the membership of journalists working under online media organisations that are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and recognised by the National Secretariat of the NUJ.

Conference, however, stated that publishers of online platform would not be members of the union. “This, therefore, means a publisher of an online platform cannot be a member of the union.”

The Conference approved the development of a website for the union to adequately capture the bio data of members on regular basis, for easy identification of accredited practicing journalists in Nigeria.

It therefore directed State Councils to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the approved amendments to the NUJ Constitution, with immediate effect, among other important provisions in the reviews.