IF there is any trade union that is begging for self-examination, it is the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). The NUJ being an umbrella body for all associations in the journalism profession has over the years refused to purge itself of charlatans and quacks by allowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to come into its fold. The Hope is however delighted that the union has taken a bold step with its conference held in Kano in January to return to the path of integrity.
THE union is powerful because of its responsibility to the society and its influence on its members, the government, and the people.Founded on March 15, 1955 in Lagos by young and enthusiastic journalists who compared notes among themselves, the purpose of the union was to better the conditions of their service and practise.
THE pioneer officers of the union were the late Mobolaji Odunewu, the first Nigerian Chief Information Officer as the President and late Chief Olu Oyesanya as the Secretary. Other members of the six-man inaugural executive included the late Ebu Adesiye who was the Treasurer while there were three ex-officio members—Mr. Increase Cooker, Chief Bisi Onabanjo and H. K. Offonry. The union has affiliate bodies like Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
FROM the very beginning, the NUJ was a trade union body. This was reflected in the laws governing the body and the union was also registered under the then Labour Laws Cap 2000. The constitution the union is currently operating came into effect on November 1, 2005. Key aspects of the provisions that prescribe who is qualified to be so called a journalist are contained in Article 3 which addresses membership. Sections 1 and 2 states: “A person shall not be a member of the Union, except if registered by the Registration Council.
IN addition to the provision in Article 3(i), a person shall also possess either a Higher National Diploma (HND) or a degree or its equivalent in Journalism or Mass Communication obtained from recognized institutions, with a working experience of not less than 12 months in a recognized media establishment. Provided that: “Persons with qualifications in other disciplines from recognized institutions and who have obtained Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) or Masters Degree in Journalism or Mass Communication or any relevant Certificate in the profession or have passed the prescribed professional examination of the Union; and persons who have practiced Journalism in recognized media establishments for not less than five years as at 31st December, 1992, shall be qualified to be registered as members.”
AS good as Article 3 of the union’s constitution is, we observed it was largely ignored by the union until 2011 when it had its first amendment with the Benin Conference where the union lowered the standard by reducing the academic and professional qualifications from a degree or HND to an Ordinary National Diploma.
THIS singular action lowered the reputation of the journalism in the estimation of media watchers and the general public as it fell short of anything called a professional body. In response to this anomaly, the union took a bold step about a year ago by emplacing a constitution drafting committee headed by its National Treasurer, Mr. Dele Atunbi to review the existing document. The report of the Atunbi-led committee was adopted by the delegates of the union in Kano in January 2023.
IN the new amendment, the union has reverted to First Degree, Higher National Diploma (HND) or its equivalent in Mass Communication and Journalism related courses as the entry qualification for the practice of Journalism in Nigeria and membership of the Union. It has also streamlined its membership in line with the provisions of its Constitution by delisting and dissolving the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Local Government Information Chapels across the country and directed State Councils to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the approved amendments to the NUJ Constitution. The Hope commends this bold step taken by the union.
HOWEVER, we note that there is still a lot of issues to be addressed in the journalism profession. Since quacks have done damage to the profession, the union should be more forceful by ensuring that only those with the necessary qualifications practise. Critical stakeholders like the Guild of Editors, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, and Nigerian Broadcasting Organisation should be carried along because they need to buy into this idea.
SINCE the fundamental problem with journalism is professionalism, the NUJ should lobby stakeholders within and outside its fold to enact a law emplacing a registration council that will register, discipline and regulate the activities of practitioners in line with the tenets of professionalism like advertising, public relations, legal, medical engineering and other professional bodies.
This is the ultimate step that will curb the menace of quackery, harassment, gratification (brown envelope syndrome) that is plaguing journalism in Nigeria and the NUJ in its current status as a trade union lacks the legal framework to enforce discipline and determine who practices and who does not.
