Kwara State Correspondents severe relationship with NUJ state council
KEHINDE AKINPELU ILORIN
Leadership and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Chapter, have suspended relationship with the State Council with immediate effect.
The chapel issued a communiqué at the end of the monthly congress held this week at the chapel Secretariat where members described the decision as a necessary measure to protect their integrity and that of the chapel leadership.
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The communiqué, jointly signed by the chairman and secretary, ‘Biola Azeez and Mosunmola Ayobami respectively, said that the Congress also resolved to boycott all press conferences and media-related activities organised by the state council until further notice.
The communiqué emphasized that the decision was also taken “based on the stand of the state council of the NUJ not to recognize leadership of the Correspondents’ chapel after a constitutional and widely accepted chapel election of November 1, 2025 and inauguration of the chapel exco.”
The communiqué, which recalled that several efforts had been made to resolve the lingering issues surrounding the election of the new Executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel, listed the efforts to include intervention of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Counsellor to the governor, the national leadership of the NUJ, and other well-meaning individuals, saying: “all that yielded no positive outcome”.
Following extensive deliberations at its March congress, members of the Correspondents’ unanimously resolved as follows:
Suspension of Relationship:
Congress unanimously resolved to suspend all forms of relationship with the Kwara State Council of the NUJ with immediate effect.
Reason for Decision:
This decision was taken as a necessary measure to protect integrity of the chapel leadership and members, especially, on the decision not to recognize leadership of the Correspondents’ chapel by the leadership of the state council of NUJ after a constitutional and widely accepted election of November 1, 2025 and inauguration of the chapel exco.
Efforts at Resolution:
Congress acknowledged that several efforts had been made to resolve the lingering issues surrounding the election of the new Executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel. These efforts included intervention of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Counsellor to the governor, the national leadership of the NUJ, and other well-meaning individuals, that yielded no positive outcome.
Source of Animosity:
Congress observed that the strained relationship largely stems from the actions and disposition of the Chairman of the NUJ Kwara State Council, and the Secretary.
Solidarity from Members:
Congress commended the overwhelming majority of NUJ members who have shown solidarity and support for the Correspondents’ Chapel in the face of what was described as the overbearing attitude of the Council leadership.
Boycott Resolution:
Congress further resolved to boycott all press conferences and media-related activities organised by the NUJ until further notice.
Inauguration of Committees:
To strengthen its operations, Congress approved the inauguration of the following committees:
a. News Keg Committee mandated to organise regular engagements with newsmakers and generate editorial content for the Chapel and its members with members including: Ibrahim Alege of The TvC (Chairman), Deacon Demola Akinyemi (Vanguard Newspaper), Mallam Garba Abdulhakeem (Channels TV, Hameed Shittu (Thisday Newspaper), and Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus of the News Agency of Nigeria.
The Press Week Committee (2026 Edition) which was charged to organise a successful 2026 Press Week has members to include: Mallam Garba Abdulhakeem, Balogun Arisekola (African culture television, Ibrahim Alege and
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, MARCH 28TH 2026)
