Abuse Of Union’s Constitution: NUJ, President Taken To Court

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has been dragged before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division over alleged violations of some provisions of its constitution 2023 (as amended).

The claimant who is a bona fide 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 heavily 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 to the claimant, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, (SAN), 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.

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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.