News

2023: NUJ Tasks Journalists On Watchdog Role

Published

4 years ago

May 16, 2022

Editor

Mr. Chris Iziguzo, National President, NUJ

Our Reporter, Bauchi

The National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Chris Isiguzo, has tasked all the journalists in Nigeria to squarely take up their watchdog responsibility as the 2023 general elections draw nearer.

The NUJ president made the call in Bauchi on Monday, during a book launch entitled ‘My Journey’ written by Mr Shuaibu Leman, the National Secretary of NUJ in marking his retirement as a civil servant.

According to him, journalists must be very careful and circumspect of the activities of the politicians and disseminate nothing but factual account of events.

“The political actors are already on a rampage somewhat. They are everywhere saying so many things.

“The things they would do, the things they will not do, the things they don’t have capacity for doing.

“It now behoves the media to also rise to the occasion and critically look at what they are saying, examine their policy documents, their visions and missions and all their promises.

“But when you do that, it won’t be the same as what they have done within the period they were given to serve.

“Somebody that has been there overtime and failed cannot possibly bring something new. So, the journalists must begin to set an agenda as we are clearly defined as agenda setters and this is the time for us to assume fully that role and begin to discharge the same.

“We must rise to the occasion and not remain as lap dogs, we must be watchdogs as we have been clearly defined to be,” he said.

Isiguzo described the writer of the book as a selfless man who had clearly rendered a meritorious service to the Nigeria Union of Journalists, hence the array of Journalists that turned up for the occasion to celebrate him.

He added that by the time people go through the book, they would be sitting ‘face to face’ with the happenings within the inner and outer circles of NUJ for the period of 19 years he had served as the National Secretary.

In his remarks, the National Secretary of NUJ, Mr Shuaibu Leman, said that the book was a compilation of what NUJ has done and what it had not succeeded in doing in the past 19 years.

Leman added that little did he realise that the challenges would be so enormous when he was appointed the NUJ national secretary in 2002,

“We tried our best and we hope those who will come after us will equally do more.

“Even as I leave the union, my greatest regret would be centred around lack of adequate payment of salaries for journalists

“Journalists in Nigeria are not properly remunerated and we have tried our best to change the situation.”

He also called on governments at all levels to make protection of lives and property of journalists a priority, adding that the gesture would be regarded as a special consideration for journalism which is pivotal to the development of democracy in the country.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.