By Martin Opara
The Nigerian Union of Journalists, Imo State Council, on Thursday 8th October, 2020, stepped down all warring factions and appointed a 7 man committee to preside over the unions’ affairs, pending the determination of the suit before the National Industrial court sitting in Owerri.
Mr Steve Uzoechi(1st right) leading other NUJ members on facility assessment of the highly dilapidated Secretariat, after swearing-in, yesterday.
Administering the oath of office at the NUJ secretariat, located at Port Harcourt Road, Owerri Elder Anthony Okoroikwe urged the caretaker committee to carry every member along irrespective of class or camp as the union detests factionalization.
The committee, with Steve Uzoechi, State correspondent of New Telegraph Newspaper, as chairman, and Comrade Precious Nwadike, of Nigerian Watchdog Newspaper as Vice chairman, which will serve for three months, was mandated to ensure the safety of the union’s properties and ensure good working relationship with the present administration.
Members of the 7 man caretaker committee of Imo NUJ
Other members of the committee appointed at the union’s congress, are Sir Sunny Ndukwu, of Eastern Front Express, Austin Okoro, Correspondent of Eastern Lead Express, Chibuike Chukwu of NTA, George Onyejiuwa of the Sun Newspaper and Nwachukwu Tonia, Local Government Information Federated Chapel.
The Congress also urged all warring factions, including Chief Chris Akaraonye, Elder Lmabert Ojukwu, and Amby Uneze to step down, support and identify with the present leadership of the union.
Speaking shortly, after his inauguration, the Caretaker committee chairman, Steve Uzoechi thanked members for reposing confidence in him and promised to do his best in sanitizing the union.
The Congress was peaceful, as security personnel from the Nigerian police were on hand to ensure security.
Recall, that the Imo State NUJ stakeholders, had in a communiqué issued after a meeting held on 26th September 2020, said, “after painstaking deliberation on the issues affecting the Nigerian Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State council, the stakeholders, comprising chairmen, secretaries and members of different chapels resolved to set up a 7-man care taker committee”, stressing that the decision is in line with the constitution of the NUJ.
