NUJ elects new president as Uzodimma, PSC boss harp on integrity of profession
Alhasan Yahaya has emerged as the new National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). Yahaya polled 436 votes to defeat his opponents, Bamidele Atunbi, who garnered 97 votes, and Garba Mohammed, who got 39 votes.
The election was conducted at the 8th Triennial Delegates Conference held in Owerri, Imo State. Yahaya, who hails from Gombe State, was the Deputy National President of NUJ.
Also, elected as Deputy National President was Abimbola Oyetunde, General Manager, Radio Nigeria, Bronze FM, Edo State, and the former Board of Trustees (BoT) member of the union.
With this, Oyetunde becomes the first female Deputy National President of the union. Other elected national officers of the union include the National Treasurer, Victor Ndukwe, who was the former Abia State Council Chairman, while Ronke Samo was reelected as the Vice President of B-Zone (South-West).
The conference brought over 620 delegates from the 36 state councils of the country.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mike Ikeogwu, who conducted the election, along with the representative of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said the election was free and fair while commending members for their orderly conduct and cooperation.
Before the election, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who played host to the union, called on the media to always fact-check their information before publishing, saying this is to stem the tide of fake news.
However, the governor has congratulated the newly elected National Chairman of the NUJ. In congratulating remarks, Uzodimma said it was heart-warming that the election was not only peaceful and transparent but produced a crop of men and women who will provide transformational leadership for the journalists in the country.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the governor, Oguwike Nwachuku, said his principal advised the new leadership of the NUJ to work in synergy with all members of the media sector, and critical stakeholders in and out of the government for the good of society.
MEANWHILE, Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), has called for a new journalism orientation that “uses the power of the pen as an instrument to mould and unite the Nigerian nation for rapid development.”
Argungu noted that the era of guerilla journalism should give way to developmental journalism, adding: “It should no more be a profession for fishing out negative energies but one in partnership with both the government and the people in building an egalitarian and prosperous nation.”
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