Emmanuel Ukudolo
Lagos, April 21, 2016 – The Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) has suspended eight members, four of them holding executive position in four chapels for gross misconduct and anti-union activity.
The executive members suspended are chairman of Ogun state council, Wole Shokunbi, Modupeola Sobukola, Treasurer, Dauod Olatunji, Vanguard and Wale Oluokun, FRCN.
They were suspended for an initial three months, the NUJ said in a communiqué issued after the first National Executive Council(NEC) meeting in Lagos, signed by its National Secretary, Shuaib Usman Lehman.
The union placed four other journalists from Osun council on indefinite suspension for taking the union to court. They are Michael Olarewaju, Oguntunyi Sunday, Wasiu Ajadosu and Yinka Kolawole.
“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”, NUJ said in the communiqué.
The NEC, which was presided over by President of the union, Abdulwaheed Odusile also resolved that annulled Osun Council election should be conducted on or before the end of April 2016.
Deliberating on state of the nation, NEC took a critical look at the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last eleven months and expressed dismay at the hardship 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.
NEC-in-Session also sympathised 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.
On the ongoing war against graft, NEC-in-Session commended 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.
On 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 insisted that the government should take a second look at tax laws and bring all taxable Nigerians within the tax net.
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 urged 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.
On security, NEC-in-Session commended the armed forces for the obvious improvement in the ongoing fight against insurgency. It advised government not to relent until terrorism is completely stamped out of the country. It also called for adequate security for people in the IDP camps. On Fulani herdsmen/Farmers crises, NEC called for urgent government intervention before the situation spirals out of hand. It also sought for a solution to the problem of Cattle rustling.
