By Toyeeb Omotayo
A new rift is brewing within the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as the Kwara Integrity Group has threatened to take legal action against the union’s National President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, if the Credentials Screening Committee fails to disqualify members of the Federal Information Chapels from participating in the upcoming national elections without paying a professional fee of N60,000.
The 8th Triennial Delegate Conference, scheduled for November in Owerri, Imo State, has been clouded by this issue , which dates back to the July 31st election in Kwara State.
It would be recalled that during the Kwara council delegate conference polls, Isiguzo imposed an annual fee of N25,000 on all Federal Information Chapel members before they could be allowed to vote, a sharp deviation from standard NUJ practices.
The Kwara Integrity Group claims this imposition could set a dangerous precedent that might lead to the disenfranchisement of Federal Information Chapel members nationwide.
They argue that the sudden imposition of professional fees, not previously required, is a deliberate attempt to marginalize certain members of the union as witnessed in Kwara and could erode trust in its leadership.
“The disqualification of Federal Information Chapel members raises serious concerns about fairness and inclusivity within the union’s election processes.
This sudden financial demand creates an atmosphere of unequal treatment within the NUJ,” the group said in a statement.
The group further contends that members of the Federal Information Chapels are not fully integrated into the union’s check-off system as stipulated by the NUJ constitution.
According to the constitution, union dues are to be automatically deducted from members’ salaries, but Federal Information Chapels reportedly operate outside this framework.
The Kwara Integrity Group maintains that any attempt by the Credentials Screening Committee to clear Federal Information Chapel members for the upcoming Owerri elections without enforcing the N60,000 professional fee will result in a lawsuit.
This legal standoff is not the first for Isiguzo, who has previously been accused of constitutional breaches by members of the union across the federation who alleged he is attempting to centralize power and manipulate the union’s electoral process.
One prominent figure affected by this new policy was Fadeyi Babajide, a former Zonal Secretary from the Federal Information Chapel, who was disqualified from contesting in the Kwara election.
Despite Babajide paying an additional N50,000 to the NUJ’s account, he was still disqualified, with insiders claiming Isiguzo feared Babajide might defeat his preferred candidate.
Babajide and other aggrieved members of the Kwara State Council have since taken the matter to court, accusing Isiguzo of violating the union’s constitution.
They are seeking a nullification of the July 31st election and calling for fresh polls that adhere to the NUJ’s constitutional guidelines.
Should the court rule in favor of Babajide and the disqualified members, it could force a re-examination of the entire election process and possibly lead to new elections in Kwara State.
Moreover, a favorable ruling might compel the NUJ leadership to reconsider its imposition of the N60,000 professional fee for chapel members nationwide.
As the Kwara Integrity Group escalates its legal threat, the looming national elections in November could be further complicated by internal disputes and growing dissatisfaction with Isiguzo’s leadership.
The imposition of previously unenforced fees has triggered questions about the transparency and fairness of the union’s electoral processes, with critics warning that unresolved tensions could weaken the cohesion of the NUJ as a professional body.
Isiguzo, who has been at the helm of the NUJ since 2018, now faces increasing pressure to address these concerns or risk allowing the courts to determine the fate of the forthcoming elections.
