By Stephen Oladele
Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) in Kwara State have called on the national leadership of the union to reconsider its decision to suspend some of the members in the state by allowing fair hearing, due process and justice to prevail in the matter.
The NUJ at the meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) held in Dtuse, Jigawa State, on August 11 had suspended three members in Kwara State namely Dare Akogun, Mosunmola Ayobami, and Adamu Usman Sabi on alleged anti union activities.
But the NUJ Kwara members while expressing their concern about the development noted that the suspended members were handed the punishment without the NUJ NEC allowing them to defend themselves on the allegations against them.
The Kwara NUJ members at a press conference addressed at the press centre of the state council of the union in Ilorin said discipline ought to be administered fairly, transparently and in accordance with the constitution and established procedures of the union.
The members who carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Reverse the suspension of Adamu, Mosun, and Dare,” “No to impunity, No to intimidation, No to Harassment,” “Let the truth be heard. Investigate the circumstances of the suspension,” “Discipline without fairing hearing is injustice. NUJ, act now,” and “NUJ must practise what it preaches. Fairness, Justice, Accountability,” said rights of members of the union must be protected.
A former chairman of the state council, Abdulwahab Umar, who spoke on behalf of the members said they were of the view that the decision about the suspension might have been influenced by misleading presentation of the circumstances surrounding the court case involving the state Council.
Umar, while referring to an allegation that the incumbent chairman of the state council, Abdulateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, presented the affected members as persons who took the union to court said contrary to the alleged presentation by the chairman the members who went to court were different from the members suspended.
He called for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts surrounding the matter before the suspension is allowed to stand.
Umar asked the national leadership of the NUJ to suspend the council chairman pending an investigation into the role he allegedly played in the circumstances that led to the suspension of the three members.
He stated: “We consider this suspension a matter of grave concern, not only to the affected journalists but to every member of the NUJ who believes in justice, fairness, due process and the protection of members’ rights.
“We are not gathered here to undermine the authority of the NUJ or to create further division within our Union. On the contrary, we are here because we believe strongly in the NUJ and in the principles upon which the Union was established. Our position is simple: discipline must be administered fairly, transparently and in accordance with the Constitution and established procedures of the Union.
“We are concerned that the decision to suspend the three members was reached without their being accorded opportunity to defend themselves. We are also concerned that, to the best of our understanding, the decision may have been influenced by what we consider to be a misleading presentation of the circumstances surrounding the court case involving the Kwara State Council.
“In particular, we are concerned by the allegation that the Council Chairman, Abdulateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, presented the affected members as persons who took the Union to court.
“We wish to state that, according to the information available to us, the court action in question was instituted by Fadeyi Babajide of the Federal Information Chapel and the late Saka Laaro of the Correspondents’ Chapel, and not by the three suspended members.
“This is why we are calling for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts surrounding the matter before the suspension is allowed to stand.
“We believe that such a step will not weaken the NUJ. Rather, it will strengthen the credibility of the Union and demonstrate that justice, fairness and due process remain fundamental values within our organisation.
“We call on the national leadership to ensure that fair hearing and due process are observed in all disciplinary proceedings and to take concrete steps towards restoring peace, unity and mutual confidence within the Kwara State Council.
“More importantly, we call on the National President of the NUJ to immediately suspend the Kwara State Council Chairman, Abdulateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, pending an investigation into the role he played in the circumstances that led to the suspension of our members which has caused serious embarrassment to the union.
“It is our considered position that he should not remain in office while allegations concerning his conduct in the matter are being investigated.
“We believe that history will judge the NUJ not merely by how it defends journalists and promotes justice in society, but also by how it treats its own members when disagreements and internal disputes arise.
“The NUJ cannot effectively preach justice, fairness, accountability and due process to society while allowing those same principles to be compromised within its own ranks.
“We remain committed to the unity, integrity and progress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Our demand is not for division, but for justice; not for revenge, but for accountability; not for confrontation, but for a fair and transparent process.
“We therefore urge the national leadership of the Union to act swiftly, responsibly and impartially to resolve this matter and restore confidence among members of the Kwara State Council.”
