By Muhammad Nasir
Sokoto Dec. 17, 2022
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NAN), Sokoto State Council, has directed all members in the state seeking political appointments to tender their resignation of membership.
The Council gave the directive on Saturday in a statement signed by Dalhatu Abdullahi and Muhammad Bello, Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
The statement, titled, “Attention to NUJ Members in Sokoto”, said the Council is adopting one of the resolutions of the NUJ National Executive Committee (NEC) from the Union’s recent meeting in Edo State.
“The NEC, being the highest decision-making organ of the Union, resolved that any member upon receiving any political appointment should resign his membership of the Union.
“This is to avoid a situation in which the NUJ will be dragged into or seen as belonging to or supporting any political party.
“Such members are, however, entitled to return to the Union at the expiration of their political appointments,” the statement noted.
The Union said reports reaching the State Council indicate that political parties are now including the names of journalists in their various campaign committees, especially that of publicity, at local and state levels.
“We wish to remind political parties that the Ethics of journalism profession disallow any member from being partisan.
“Thus, every Nigerian has the constitutional rights to elect any political party of his choice, but the ethics of the profession encourage members to remain apolitical being the fourth estate of the realm,” the statement added.
The Council further directed all chapels in the state to ensure that members willing to take up political appointments should be made to tender their resignation of the membership of NUJ.
“Such members should not enjoy any of the privileges from the Chapel, Council and the National Secretariat,” it said