Thirty-two out of 48 registered members of the P Correspondents’ Chapel Plateau State of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) have disassociate and rejected the “purported imposition and illegal inauguration” of 3 men EXCO inaugurated by the Caretaker Committee set up by the NUJ Plateau State Council,describing the process as unconstitutional.
In a letter addressed to the National President of the Nigerian of Journalists ,Comrade Alhassan Yahaya dated August 13 and made available to journalists in Jos on Saturday ,the members expressed a strong and unequivocal rejection of the purported imposition and illegal inauguration of Mr. Douglas Francis of Arise Tv as Chairman, Mr. John Farinola as Vice Chairman as well as Miss Comfort Pius as Treasurer.
Our Correspondent reports that,, the crisis began “when the state council rejected and disqualified the first members of the credentials committee set up and inaugurated by the chapel's congress over payment of ‘lump sum’ as check-off dues to the union.
While in the spirit of peace, “the chapel conveyed an emergency congress and reconstituted another credentials committee which is the second Credentials Committee.
Following the interference by the leadership of the NUJ in the Credentials Committee “the crisis was compounded with so much interference in the electoral process,leading to the resignation of the Chairman and members of the reconstituted credentials committee, as well as the contestants in the election withdrawal from the contest,leaving Mr Douglas Francis, as the only contestant four days to the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent executives (July 27, 2026).”
Following the expiration of tenure the incumbent Chairman who summoned a meeting, to enabled the Chapel Constitute a caretaker Committee by the Congress,but the state council came with names saying that, the Council has appointed a three-man caretaker committee, made up of three former Chairmen of the chapel,which she announced Tongnan Bawa, Yemi Kosoko and Mr Isaac Shobayo), saying that it was a directives from the national secretariat of the NUJ.
The Plateau State Council give the
committee “two weeks to conduct an election” and “came up with a timetable and guidelines indicating that election will hold on Thursday, August 13, 2026.”
Members expressed their worries shocked by the unconstitutional action of the committee” when “three days before the day of election, organised an illegal inauguration for Mr Douglas Francis, Mr John Farinola and Miss Comfort Pius as officials of the chapel, claiming that they have concluded their assignment.”
Members who were interested to contest and were waiting to buy forms and contest,but the Committee did not make the sells of forms open for members.
Our Correspondent also reports that, the Council insisted on strict compliance with the Constitution in dealing with the affairs of the Correspondents’ Chapel, while the Members expressed concerned that similar standards do not appear to have been applied to other chapels.
While citing an example, with the present: Chairman of the Plateau Publishing Company (PPC), Nigerian Standard Chapel is alleged not to meet the qualification requirements stipulated by the Constitution for the position of Chairman. Yet, the same State Council proceeded to inaugurate him into office.
The Members also stated that whether if the Constitution is strictly followed in the affairs of the Correspondents’ Chapel, why should the same constitutional provisions not apply equally to other chapels?”
They aggrieved members further questioned the eligibility of some state council officials, noting that,If the provisions of the NUJ Constitution are to be followed to the latter, particularly Article 3, Section 3(a) and (b), serious questions arise regarding the eligibility of certain officials of the state council of the union
“Against this background we have lost confidence in the State Council to continue to mediate or supervise the resolution of the crisis,” the members declared.
In this regard they have, so far, boycotted the activities of the Plateau State Council pending the intervention and resolution of the matter by the National Secretariat of the NUJ.
The 32 members urged National Secretariat of the NUJ to “constitute an independent committee or other appropriate body at the national level to take over the matter, investigate the issues raised and guide the Chapel towards a credible, transparent and constitutionally compliant resolution.
They also informed the national body that “the Chapel currently has no substantive leadership and therefore cannot continue to operate in a vacuum.”
“Consequently, after due consultation among members, we have appointed the following persons to spearhead the affairs of the Chapel pending the resolution of the crisis: Mr Shittu Tanko, Mr Dickson Adama, Mrs Asile Emmanuel,” the letter said.
In their prayers to the National Secretariat, they demanded that it should: “Ensure that normalcy is restored in the chapel in line with the constitution of the NUJ.”
They equally prayed the national secretariat of the NUJ to “Constitute an independent committee or other appropriate body at the national level to take over and independently handle the matter."
In addition, the Correspondents asked the national body to “Investigate the issues raised concerning the purported imposition and inauguration of officials of the Plateau State Correspondents’ Chapel.”
Similarly ,they called on the NUJ national body to “Direct that any leadership arrangement imposed without a valid election be withdrawn, and that a credible, transparent and constitutionally compliant election be conducted for the Correspondents’ Chapel.” as well as “Review the eligibility of Mr. Pam Musa of New Telegraph to contest for the position of Vice Chairman of the Plateau State Council.”
They also assured that they remain committed to the principles of democracy, justice, fairness, transparency and due process, and urge all concerned to refrain from actions capable of further deepening the crisis within the Chapel.
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