NUJ ends NEC meeting in Birnin Kebbi, issues 20 point communique on burning National issues.

The National Executive Council NEC meeting of the Nigerian Union of Journalists ( NUJ) has ended in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State Capital with issues of national interest raised in a 20 paragraph report.

The communique read;

The meeting which was attended by National Officers and State Council Chairmen and Secretaries from the States and the Federal Capital Territory discussed Union matters and the State of the Nation and resolved that:

After a review of the current security situation in the country particularly in the North Central Region, NEC applauds the military operations against the murderous activities of Non State Actors. The meeting however regrets that in recent times we have witnessed more vicious attacks on villages and rural communities and the consequent imminent humanitarian crisis in the Region. While NEC urges the Military to sustain their operations, especially as the rainy season is approaching so as to enable farmers have access to their farmlands without any fear, it calls on the Federal Government to provide all the requirements for the Armed Forces to enable them achieve the desired results.
On government’s efforts at rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant Boko Haram Terrorists into the society,NEC appeals for circumspection, to avoid recycling insurgents and creating a pseudo feeling of rewarding criminality.
NEC observes that the Farmers/Herders relations over the years in the country continues to cause huge losses because of the ravaging consequences of the activities of various violent groups especially in the Seven States of North West Nigeria-Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto and Jigawa and the North Central State of Niger. NEC charges the Federal Government to take urgent steps to avert a complete breakdown of law and order.
These attacks have doubled the numbers of Internally Displaced persons-IDPs all over the said areas and this explains the increase in Women and Children Sexual Abuse, as some families are forced to surrender their female children in exchange for protection and security. NEC cautions against allowing the situation to fester beyond what is obtainable currently.
NEC suggests that as a step towards curtailing the age long development issues in the North West and North East Regions and indeed all over the Country, there should be observance and implementation of Good Governance which will promote development that is essentially free of abuse and corruption, and with due regards to the rule of law.
In view of the perilous nature of security in the country, NEC tasks Journalists to be mindful of the pernicious effects of fake news and avoid being part of its propagation. NEC asserts that while leaders should be held accountable to the people by the media, criticisms should be done in an objective manner devoid of any sentiments and bias. This is one of the ways Journalists can help sustain democracy.
The Federal Government should urgently assist the most affected states in the North West and North East with remedial intervention to ameliorate the affects of hunger that will be experienced this year because of the limited access to farmlands by farmers. Food security is of vital importance to the Nation.
NEC expresses concern that education in the states of the North West and North East Regions has been severely affected with many children now unable to attend schools because of fear, while others are dropping out of elementary schools and only few others are able to transit to secondary schools. NEC expresses alarm that violence has not only negatively affected the educational development of children all over these Regions, but it has also affected the availability of educational material and infrastructure. NEC believes there is need to declare State of Emergency in education in the affected areas to avert a catastrophe.
NEC calls for meaningful dialogue and consideration by both the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities- ASUU to resolve the seemingly intractable problems of Nigerian Universities. The perennial strikes are placing the country as a Nation without value for education.
NEC appeals to the Federal Government to rise up to the challenges of increasing cases of internet fraud also known as “yahoo yahoo”, ritual killings and kidnappings that have taken dangerous dimensions in the country.
Meeting laments the hardships Nigerians are going through as a result of the hike in prices of petroleum products which are in high demand and urges the government to take urgent steps to revert the trend. In particular NEC cautions against allowing the Aviation Sector to collapse as a result of the ugly situation where Airlines are being grounded because of lack of Aviation Fuel.
NEC views with alarm the attempt by media regulatory bodies in the country to gag the press under the guise of ” National Security” . The rampant issuance of unnecessary fines and sanctions are repulsive and against a free press and democratic governance.
Council charges members to note that NEC meeting attendance is mandatory, and members who continue to default without any cogent reason will be sanctioned. NEC also cautions State Councils to follow due process in disciplining erring members . A situation where State Councils arbitrarily suspend members, without recourse to NEC must stop.
NEC directs Councils to submit to the National Secretariat, within two weeks a list of all check-off dues paying members according to chapels. NEC however takes note of members whose dues are paid through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System -IPPIS .
Councils are further directed to submit to the National Secretariat, a comprehensive inventory of all property of the union without prejudice to the functions of the National Trustees. Councils are also reminded that payment of check off dues is a mandatory Constitutional requirement and that all defaulting Councils must defray the arrears of check off dues within three months as failure would mean sanctions on the affected Council Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

NEC in addition, directs that Councils that fail to remit their monthly check-off dues as at when due should be appropriately punished.

On Ondo Council Election, NEC approves the dissolution of the Electoral Committee earlier constituted for not adhering to Constitutional requirements and inaugurates a three member Electoral Committee to be headed by SunmolaOlowookere, with Ayo Falana as Secretary and OlufisoyeAdenitan as member . NEC mandates the Committee to conduct the Council election within one month while all processes put in place by the former committee remain null and void.
NEC warns Councils to desist from executing any agreement involving the union’s property without the approval of the National Secretariat. NEC charges the National Trustees to take proper records of the union’s property in the 36 state councils and the FCT.
NEC endorses the current efforts to amend the Union’s constitution and urges for a speedy and efficient completion of the process which it notes is long overdue.
NEC expresses profound appreciation to His Excellency, Senator AbubakarAtikuBagudu, Governor of Kebbi State for graciously approving and providing the needed resources for the hosting of the NEC meeting in the state. It equally lauds the government and people of Kebbi State for the hospitality accorded NEC members.
Council appeals to His Excellency the Governor to continue the good works he is executing for the people of the state and for his continued support to members of the state council of the NUJ to discharge their duties creditably. Communique Drafting Committee
Comrade John Angese
(Sec Zone F) Chairman
Comrade Juliet Kelechi Dim
(Sec, Imo Council) Secretary
Comrade Abba Murtala
(Sec, Kano Council) Member

Shuaibu Usman Leman
Walin Shadalafiya
National Secretary