By Emma Okereh
The executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ)FCT Council on Sunday ,dismissed claims of being impeached from office, describing it as a failed insurrection.
In a statement Sunday, the chairman of the council and secretary, Osaretin Osadebamwen and Ochiaka Ugwu, likened the purported impeachment to the January 6th, 2021 insurrection in the United States where a mob tried to overrun the US Congress and sack the lawmakers.
In the statement , the duo reminded FCT journalists that those who participated in the effort in the US are in jail, while others are still on trial.
It expressed worry that some credible media outlets carried the story without due diligence and advised them to be circumspect.
“The attention of the State Working Committee (Executive) of the NUJ FCT Council has been drawn to a news item that unfortunately has been carried by even some respectable media organisations of its purported impeachment”.
While faulting the claims, it also cited the relevant sections of the constitution as well as the parameters and procedures for impeachment.
The news of the purported impeachment of the Osaretin led executive surfaced after the Saturday Congress which was disrupted by parties believed to be working for a particular chairmanship aspirant who believed that the Credentials Committee members being assembled was going to be to its disadvantage.
The full text of the NUJ FCT statement reads;
“The attention of the State Working Committee (Executive) of the NUJ FCT Council has been drawn to a news item that unfortunately has been carried by even some respectable media organisations of its purported impeachment
Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is akin to the January 6th, 2021 insurrection in the United States, where mobsters sought to overturn democracy, constitutional law, and order but utterly failed just as in the instance case.
The parameters to remove the SWC of the NUJ are set out in Article 5 “Organs of the Union.”
Article 5 Part C 10a-b states:
“10. (a). The Central Working Committee (CWC) shall, upon a vote of no confidence by two- thirds (2/3) majority of votes of members of the National Executive Council (NEC) be dissolved. This shall, however, be based on proven allegations of anti-union activity, maladministration, financial impropriety, misconduct, and commission of crimes capable of dragging the name of the union into disrepute.
“However, before the vote of no confidence is cast, the allegations shall be investigated by a panel and the CWC members given the opportunity to defend themselves in keeping with Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
“(b). Where the CWC is so dissolved, the National Secretary shall immediately notify the State Council Chairmen and Secretaries who shall take over and run the affairs of the Union and conduct elections within three months.”
“How does this section pertain to the FCT SWC? Part E of the above article states: “1 (g). The State Executive Committee (SEC) shall comprise members of the SWC as well as chairmen and secretaries of all Chapels in the State Council of the Union.
“(h). The SEC shall perform similar functions as NEC at the State Council level. SWC shall perform similar functions as the CWC at the State Council level.”
“The SWC is not unaware of the desperation of a few individuals who are unwilling to follow due process and put their vaunted popularity to the test over certain fatal flaws in their ambitions.
“While the SWC has been restrained owing to its avowal to maintain the integrity and peace of the Council which it has enjoyed over the past six years, it will resist every attempt to drag the Union into disrepute by any individual or persons, however, highly placed.
“The SWC wishes to appeal to media organisations especially some broadcast stations to be circumspect in their reportage of issues relating to the council and not be caught in the crosshairs of misinformation.”
