By Ahmed Ahmed
Members of Chapels of the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ) have dissociated themselves from a legal action instituted by 3 members of the Union.
The Chapel members described the legal action instituted against the Union as uncalled for, unnecessary and an attempt to create confusion among majority of the members.
Albarka Radio Chapel of the NUJ in a press statement release on Thursday stated that it is distancing itself from the action of the 3 members.
The statement reads: “After due consultation with members, concerning action of some members taking the state Council to court. Albarka Radio Chapel, Bauchi has distanced itself from the action of the said members.”
According to the statement signed by the Secretary of the Chapel, Zainab Muhammad Sabitu, “The Chapel unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the Credential Committee and the State Executive members.”
The statement was also endorsed by Silas Shentukwak, Chairman NUJ Albarka Radio Chapel.
In the same vein, the Executive and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, State Information Chapel distanced its self from the decision taking by Fatima Idres Danjuma in dragging N UJ to court.
According to a statement by Secretary of the Chapel, Baba Umar, “the decision was made by Fatima Idrees without the consent of any member of the Chapel.”
“Therefore, the Chapel still abide by the decision made by the members during the last Congress meeting of the N UJ held on 17may 2023.”
Also, Wikki Chapel stated that, “It has come to us with great dismay that some members of the NUJ Bauchi State Council had taken the council to court without our knowledge.”
According to a statement jointly signed Ibrahim Yakubu and Ibrahim Mark Adams, Chairman and Secretary of the Chapel respectively, “It is in that regard, that the Wikki Chapel of NUJ Bauchi after consultations and meeting with its members, distanced itself from the so called members, that will take decision without consultations.”
The Chapel declared, “Unanimously, the Chapel is in support of the present leadership of the Bauchi State Executives Council of the NUJ and stand with the decision taken during our last congress meeting on 17th May, 2023.”
A cross section of the NUJ members expressed their displeasure over the legal action taken by the 3 members saying that it was unwarranted considering the tremendous turn around witnessed in the administration of the Council in the last 3 years.
The members who spoke said that they could not understand the reasons of the aggrieved members that could not be resolved within without resorting to legal action even when the Union Constitution is against such action.
Recall that, the Reporter of the Voice of America in Bauchi state leading 2 others, had instituted a legal action against the Credentials Committee constituted by the State Council of the NUJ.
The trio secured an interim injunction restraining members of the Credentials Committee form parading themselves as such.
