I will introduce Journalists Registration Council, says Lamidi, NUJ presidential aspirant

An aspirant for the post of National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Mustapha Lamidi, says he will introduce a Journalists Registration Council (JRC) if elected.

Lamidi, who is the current National Auditor of the Council, said on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti that his plans to create a registration body for journalists was borne out of the need to completely remove quacks from the profession.

“I promise to introduce a JRC if God and my colleagues so help me to become President to ensure that all practising journalists in Nigeria are well documented.

“There is no denying the fact that the daily activities of the quacks are causing a lot of damage and something drastic, no matter how painful, must be done,” he said.

Lamidi, a one-time Chairman of the Kwara State Council and former Zonal Secretary of the Union, said that his tenure would witness transformation of the practice of journalism across the country.

He said the JRC initiative would be operated under his campaign programme of “Building, Enhance and Capacity (BECA) ‘’ for all categories of Journalists.

While welcoming the guest, the NUJ Chairman in Ekiti, Mr Laolu Omosilade, commended the efforts of journalists in the state for moving the council forward.

Omosilade said with the financial situation of the state council, journalists might not take part in the 2015 Triennial National Conference in Abuja as the council could not foot the bills.

He called on well-meaning citizens of the state to assist the council so that it would not lag behind.

Omosilade, however, thanked the state government for its assistance so far to the union.