During the presentation of certificates to the new executives, the Zonal Vice President noted that he was aware of the plan by few selected members within the chapel to destabilize the union through illegal election.
Earlier, Comrade Abu Satar Hamed was elected unopposed by 13 out of 22 accredited members of the chapel through ballot voting supervised by the Zonal VP, B zone, Comrade Cosmas Oni and Zonal Secretary, Bamigbola Gbolagute.
Other elected executive are; Juwon Opayemi (Vice Chairman), Bolaji Adekunle (Secretary), Akinola Akindele (Treasurer) Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji (Asst. Secretary) and Jaji Olamilekan as Auditor.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Abu Satar Hamed commended all members for their forthright and determination to reposition the chapel.
Abu Satar assured members of the new exco’s commitment to reposition the dignity of the journalism profession through transparency, constant informing, educating and entertaining the general public through fresh and authentic news publications.
“We are poised to correct the erroneous impression in some quarters that our chapel is a platform for artisans, I have heard people calling us bricklayers, carpenters and motor mechanics.
“Our administration will not only look into the circumstances that gave rise to such attributions but will also make deliberate efforts to flush out those who are not qualified to be in our midst, these we shall do without losing sight of those who had been performing in the Industry for decades, the ones that the NUJ constitution describes as Associate Members who can neither vote nor be voted for.
“It is our resolve to build a virile union that will stand without the blemish of harbouring criminally minded individuals or charlatans that regards the union as mere meal tickets or the proverbial “pot of soup.”
