AGENE GODWIN, Benin
Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Monday, appointed a caretaker committee made up of all the chairmen and secretaries of the chapels to run the affairs of the union for another three months in accordance with the constitution of the organization.
The follows the expiration of the tenure of the former executive council led by Desmond Agbama Saturday, November 7, even as the credentials committee had yet to conduct fresh election.
Members of the Council were already preparing for election earlier fixed for November 19th when last Friday, the three members of the Credentials Committee submitted a letter of resignation signed by the three members Raphael Okhiria who was chairman, Patrick Owolabi, secretary and Richard Eweka. An emergency congress was then fixed for Monday.
However, a statement was issued on Sunday that members of the Committee had rescinded their decision, an action members said was suspect.
In the emergency congress, members of the union resolved that since the tenure of the Agbama led executive had expired, and with the resignation and controversial rescinding of the resignation of members of the credentials committee not acceptable, and in line with Article 5, Section D, 9 (c) of the NUJ constitution, chairmen and secretaries of the chapels should take over the running of the council and directed that the decision should be communicated to the national secretariat.
In a communiqué signed by representatives of seven chapels including NTA, EBS, Correspondents Chapel, Vines FM, Bronze FM and State Ministry of Information, the former exco members were directed to return all properties of the union still in the hands to the caretaker committee within 24 hours.
It also said the credentials committee now lacked credibility to conduct the next election and agreed to set up a fresh committee after due consultation with the national secretariat.
