The newly elected chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu has assured of a prosperous council devoid of beggarly tendencies.
The Chairman who made the declaration today at a press briefing held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Asaba to present the blueprint of his executive for the next three years, said the Council would be run based on accountability and good result.
Comrade Ikeogwu described as appalling the poor financial base of the Council, blaming it on the non effective implementation of the check off due and professional fee payments, stating that a situation where the body depended on donations from government would be done away with.
“Records available show vividly that majority of the existing chapel under Delta NUJ do not pay their check off dues/professional fees”, he said, noting, “Except for a few, it is regrettable that most chapels are serial defaulters. Apart from occasional donations that come particularly at the NUJ Press Week, there is little or no source of fund. This has made it difficult for the Council to meet its financial obligations, including running the secretariat, payment of monthly salary of staff and security among others.”
The Chairman, who was accompanied by all other members of the executive, called on all chapels to turn a new leaf by ensuring regular remittance of all fees, saying the Council would enforce strict supervision of all press conferences and briefings by public and private sectors.
According to him, the measure would afford the Council its legitimate entitlement, stressing that the Union could no longer continue with what he described as ‘beggarly disposition’ in the execution of its programmes and policies even in minor activities such as meetings and travels.
“While we appreciate government’s goodwill and benevolence, we must however depend less on government in conducting our affairs. To this end, the new executive of the Union shall set up a marketing department and possibly engage the services of a marketing consultant, the Chairman stated, explaining, “The Consultant shall besides carrying out revenue yielding task such as branding the Council’s new Secretariat building, will also assist the Union in sourcing for funds from private and corporate organizations.”
He promised to make the Council’s new secretariat attractive when fully completed, saying the rule of law and professionalism, training and re-training of journalists and welfare scheme for members would be hallmark of his executive.
Comrade Ikeogwu listed other areas of concern to his executive to include working towards actualizing journalists’ village akin to those in Lagos and Ogun States, setting up of NUJ Cooperative Society to facilitate the funding of projects by members, setting up NUJ enterprises and agro based business and rebranding of NUJ Press Week and Awards, as well as the creation Delta NUJ Advisory Council Committee.
He promised to quickly address issues of non admission of qualified members into chapels and put machinery in motion to ensure everyone was accommodated in the scheme of things.
According to the Chairman, the Union would always take side and defend its members at all times in as much as they operated within the law and did not engage in acts of blackmail.
He thanked the State Government for its support to the Council, saying, “We are grateful to past administrations and the administration of His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta State, for its diverse support to the NUJ. We also wish to extend gratitude to the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah for his encouragement and fatherly advice.”
