Bauchi NUJ: Tension as Campaign Council Accuses Former Chairman of Failure to Hand Over

Bauchi NUJ: Tension as Campaign Council Accuses Former Chairman of Failure to Hand Over

The Campaign Council of Ahmed and Muazu in the last Bauchi State Council election of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed concern over the alleged failure of the former State Chairman, Umar Saeed, to hand over to the newly elected executives more than a month after the expiration of his tenure and the inauguration of the new leadership.

In a statement signed by Aminu Tahir Goggo, Chairman of the Campaign Council; Abdulhadi, its Secretary; and Usman A. Abbas, its Director-General, the council called on the national leadership of the NUJ, the relevant zonal leadership and the newly elected Bauchi State Council executives to intervene and ensure a transparent handover.

The council said the alleged delay had raised concerns among journalists in the state, questioning the response of the new leadership and urging it to take steps to protect the union's constitution, assets and institutional integrity.

Calls for Accountability Over Union Assets

The campaign council demanded the immediate recovery of the NUJ's official vehicle from the former chairman, alongside a detailed account of the union's activities and finances during his tenure.

It also called for a comprehensive explanation of the ongoing construction of the new NUJ secretariat by the Bauchi State Government, including the project's status and any relevant financial and administrative records.

The council urged the new State Council to establish a monitoring committee to oversee the project's completion and submit a report to the union's leadership.

It further demanded clarification on the proceeds from the auction of NUJ properties and the management of an alleged ₦5 million donation reportedly made to the union to support the conduct of the last general election.

According to the statement, the relevant leadership should ensure that proper records are made available to account for the funds and other assets under scrutiny.

Questions Over Practising Fees

The campaign council also raised concerns over the collection and documentation of practising and professional fees paid by journalists.

It called for the production of payment records, including bank tellers and dates of payment, showing the names of journalists who paid their fees.

The council cited the need for transparent financial procedures and consistency in the collection and remittance of union dues, arguing that members should be able to verify their payment records.

It further referred to the amended NUJ Constitution in its demand for compliance with the applicable provisions governing the payment of union funds into designated accounts.

The statement urged the union's leadership at all levels to ensure that financial accountability requirements were applied consistently across the organisation.

Campaign Council Questions Removal of Director-General

The council also criticised the reported removal of its Director-General, Usman A. Abbas, from the Bauchi State Council's NUJ platform after he posted the council's concerns about the handover process.

It said the action was troubling, arguing that the new leadership should prioritise resolving the handover dispute and addressing members' concerns rather than taking steps that could be perceived as targeting individuals for raising issues about the union's administration.

The council maintained that its intervention was intended to promote accountability and protect the collective interests of journalists in Bauchi State.

Petition Already Submitted to National Secretariat

The campaign council disclosed that it had previously submitted a petition to the NUJ National Secretariat concerning the conduct of the recent Bauchi State Council election.

It said it was awaiting a response from the national leadership under the union's President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, before deciding on further steps in accordance with the law and the union's constitution.

The council called on the national and zonal leadership, as well as the newly elected Bauchi State Council executives, to intervene and resolve the outstanding issues in the interest of peace, transparency and institutional stability.

It stressed that the concerns should be addressed through established procedures, insisting that accountability and the enforcement of the union's constitution should apply equally to all members.

The allegations and demands contained in the statement have not been independently verified by The Analyst Online Media. The former chairman and the new State Council were not quoted in the statement responding to the allegations.