MY RESIGNATION ADDRESS
AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY COMRADE (SIR) FIDELIS EGUGBO, CHAIRMAN, NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), THE POINTER CHAPEL ON FEBRUARY 3, 2014 BEING THE LAST CONGRESS AT WHICH I AM PRESIDING AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNION AT THE CHAPEL LEVEL.
My Dear Comrades in the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), The Pointer Chapel.
It is with mixed feelings that I stand here today to address you. Yes! For the first time as the Chairman of this great Union, I am standing to address you. First, I will thank God for His benevolence towards us; I will thank Him greatly for His blessings on the NUJ, The Pointer Chapel within the past three years that I have been in the saddle as the Chairman of this great Chapel. But for God, we would not have been seated here today and hold this meeting. We give Him the glory and honour in Jesus name, amen. I also, wish to thank all of you for believing in this union. It is our union of which we are all proud of.
The journey for me to be the Chairman of this great Union started three years ago. Then, it was like a joke; but, following the elevation of our then Chairman, Comrade Gomo Oyibokuku Oyiborhoro to become the Secretary of the Delta State Council of NUJ, there was a vacuum in the headship of the Union. Initially, I had no intention of contesting for this position but, had to reluctantly do so after most of our members encouraged me in that respect to serve in the capacity of the Chairman of NUJ, The Pointer Chapel. That was in July, 2011. There was an election in which I had a co-contestant, but, you spoke with a strong voice by giving me 22 votes as against his 15 votes.
That election took place on August 4, 2011 and it inadvertently signalled my journey back to active unionism 10 years after I left the executive of this Union as Acting Chairman. We can recall that in 2001, I was the Acting Chairman of this Union and I called for election in which I did not participate as an aspirant. That was because I had held positions as Secretary of the Union, Vice-Chairman of the Union and Acting Chairman of the Union and I felt there was need for others to also contribute their quota to the growth of the Union because, the union leadership is open to all eligible members.
After my return on August 4, 2011, there were serious challenges:
- The management of The Pointer was on us to take our bus to our permanent site as an abandoned vehicle because the bus was in a bad state;
- Our Union account with First Bank of Nigeria Plc had been dormant for more than two years;
- Our members were not paying dues, as such; there was no money anywhere; and,
- Quite regrettable, we had become a union without any record of either attendance at meetings or minutes of meeting, including financial records.
But spurred by your confidence in me and our collective faith in the unseen hands that make things perfect, we initiated a Media Week for NUJ for The Pointer Chapel, with an annual lecture as its core element.
In October, 2011, about two months of our being in office, we organized a successful Media Week at which a Lagos-based Chartered Accountant and social commentator, Chief Ken Olise, delivered a lecture on the topic, ‘National Security and Vision 2020-20.’ Of course, the week-long activities featured thanksgiving at the Catholic Church of Ascension, Asaba; a novelty football match with our colleagues in Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba; presentation of gift items to the School of Children with Special Needs, Okpanam; the inaugural lecture of the NUJ, The Pointer Chapel and the first annual dinner of the union.
We rendered account of what we did for our members to appreciate those who contributed to the success of the Week. Besides, in less than five months after my coming in as the Chairman, NUJ, The Pointer Chapel, our union account with First Bank Plc was reactivated and, till date, that account remains functional.
It is worthy to state here that we have since, consistently and successfully held the annual Media Week without interruption. In 2012, the Week which usually holds in October was postponed by about one month in sympathy with victims of the flood that ravaged coastal communities in Nigeria, especially, in Delta State and our Union, NUJ, The Pointer Chapel was among the first set of concerned Nigerians –individuals or organisations, to donate relief materials to the victims of the flood. It is worthy to state here that Dr Anthonia Ashiedu, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation in the state was on hand to receive our relief materials on behalf of the state government. Our donation and the attendant media publicity, added to the creation of awareness for not only individuals but, for groups to assist the victims of the flood. Much more than that, it helped redefine the Chapel and DPPCL as an organisation with a huge sense of corporate social responsibility.
Also in 2012, our Media Week was a success as a world acclaimed Professor of Arts, Prince Demas Nwoko delivered the second annual lecture titled, ‘Constitution Review and the Role of the Mass Media’. Members of the NUJ, Warri Correspondents’ Chapel were in Asaba for a novelty football match during the 2012 Media Week, which also featured a thanksgiving service at the Living Faith Bible Church (Winners Chapel), Asaba, the presentation of gift items to Old People’s Home by St. Joseph Catholic Church, Asaba, and the Orphanage being run by the Anglican Church at Cable Point, Asaba. It is worthy to state here that the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), graciously took the kick-off in the novelty football match with the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ. A member of House of Representatives, Hon. (Chief) Ndudi Elumelu played prominent roles during that year’s annual dinner and dance held at the Orchid Hotel, Asaba. The Vice-Chairman of NUJ, in charge of our zone, Comrade Uzarka USA was also actively involved in that year’s Media Week as he
attended almost all the ceremonies for the Week, and till date, his endearing words and positive activism bears clear testimony to our resurgence as a leading Chapel in all the South-South zone if not the entire country.
A member of House of Representatives, Hon. Evelyn Oboro delivered the lecture during the 2013 Media Week and she spoke on the topic, ‘New Revenue Allocation Formula and the Nigerian Project: The Role of the Mass Media’ with High Chief Tom Egbuwoku, former member of the House of Representatives and other prominent Nigerians, in attendance. During last year’s Media Week, there was a novelty football match with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Chapel of the NUJ; a thanksgiving service at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Asaba; a picnic at Ned Nwoko’s place, Idumuje-Ugboko; presentation of gift items to the sick at the Government Hospital, Okwe, and our annual dinner and dance, among others.
With a bid to fostering good relationship within us and our children and also provide an avenue to unwind, in May, 2012, we organized the first annual Children’s Day party for Children of Journalists. The party, against all odds, was successfully held in The Pointer Newspaper’s premises, 278 Nnebisi Road, Asaba on May, 27, 2012. There was enough to eat and drink for parents and their children with good music to spice up the event. Since it was an annual event, the second edition of the Children’s Day party for Children of Journalists was successfully held again on May 27, 2013.
Two days after the Children’s Day Party, on May 29, 2012, we organized our first annual Walk 4 Democracy & Fitness programme. The programme was organized with the sole aim of raising awareness for people not to see Democracy Day activities as those for government officials alone but for all Nigerians to look at where we were during the military era and appreciate where we are now for us to always work towards deepening our democracy.
Our Democracy Day activities have gone beyond walking from The Pointer Premises, 278 Nnebisi Road to include brief talks on how to sustain democracy by resource persons and we have been consistent in holding the annual Walk event.
My brothers and sisters in the Union, permit me to say that with your cooperation, our bus which we were under pressure to abandon in our permanent site is now functional. Less than eight months after my coming on board as Chairman, through the resolution of the House, we got our friend, Chief Godwill Obielum to refurbish the bus for us and till date, there is a committee which is handling everything concerning the bus without any interference from the exco.
Also, one of the herculean tasks we faced when I became the Chairman of the Union was opening up the space for staff to grow. Through consistent dialogue, subtle push and the use of contacts, the management of The Pointer Newspaper promoted our colleagues who had been stagnated for a long time. We made management to understand that people can rise to the position of Deputy General Manager, Assistant General Manager, among others, as obtainable in the Delta Broadcasting Service. Today, our colleagues and other staff of the organization can rise to level 15 and 16 unlike before.
It is also worthy to state that we canvassed vigorously for not only casuals in The Pointer to be absorbed but for government to declare vacancies in the organization because of the need for more hands to be engaged in the newspaper house. To make this possible and other issues such as weigh-in allowance; movement to our permanent site and a generally good work environment for our members; we paid courtesy visits to the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei; the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Festus Okubor; the Commissioner for Information, Barr. Chike Ogeah; the Special Adviser to Delta State Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Comrade Mike Okeme; among others. Today, the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who has not only shown his passion for workers’ welfare but, has proven through actions that he is the best media friendly Governor in the country, has made some of our prayers come through and we give the glory to God.
On December 4, 2013, based on congress resolution, we successfully held a prayer meeting in conjunction with our sister Union, the National Union of Printing & Publishing, Paper Product Workers (NUPPPPROW) at the permanent site of The Pointer Newspaper’s premises by the Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Asaba.
It is worthy to also note that in 2012, our great Union celebrated Easter with inmates of Pro Labore Dei in Asaba. This is in addition to the fact that we have also celebrated with our members who had reasons to celebrate and mourned with those who were bereaved, as occasion demanded.
In February, 2013, our tenure came to an end. This was because we were an inherited executive and, due to our concern for the programmes we initiated to be well institutionalized, you collectively came out on May 14, 2013 and again spoke with one voice that I should be returned as the Chairman of NUJ, The Pointer Chapel.
It is important to state here that financial report and any other accounts were rendered at every congress held after we engaged in any activity. This is because, our members deserve to know how such event(s) became possible - whether they were sponsored by friends or the money came from our union or individual purse.
Today, my dear colleagues, I want to thank all of you for your support for me as an individual and for our Union which made it possible for us to record success in all our activities. The tenure of the executive of the Delta State Council of the NUJ will come to an end on March 2, 2014. As such, I want to use this medium to inform you of my intention to formally resign as the Chairman of this great Union, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), The Pointer Chapel from today. This is no light decision, of a truth, I have examined all the relevant issues and arrived at the decision that it is in our best long-term interest.
I am happy that we have a Union which we all believe in; a union which does not revolve round an individual, a union which believes that unionism is ALL about the Welfare of its members, and a Union that we are immensely proud of.
As I resign as the Chairman of NUJ, The Pointer Chapel who inherited nothing from my predecessor in 2011, I am proud to say that I am leaving this position having entrenched, among others:
1. An annual lecture series/Media Week;
2. A culture of monthly Congress where members are free to express themselves;
3. An annual Walk 4 Democracy & Fitness programme for May 29, every year;
4. An annual Children’s Day party for Children of Journalists for May 27, every year;
5. Car sticker that distinguishes our members’ vehicles from others;
6. A functional bus which is being managed by a three-man committee;
7. A revolving loan fund to assist our members who are in financial needs at 5 per cent interest rate;
8. An account with First Bank Plc that is buoyant; at least in light of our previous experience;
9. A Union leadership that is transparent;
10. A Union with functional facebook account which has more than 1, 300 friends;
11. A united NUJ, The Pointer Chapel,
12. A Union that is fostering harmony with other sister Unions and labour organizations;
13. A leadership that is vision-propelled; and
13. Most importantly, a Union that prays to God, gives thanks to God and believes that with God nothing is impossible.
Thank you as I also assure you of my continual contribution to the growth of our union. I solicit your prayers for those who will continue from where I stop today, to head our union. I seek, by the same stretch of honest appeal, your consistent support for and prayer for me. Again, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the NUJ, The Pointer Chapel as Secretary, Vice-Chairman, Acting Chairman and Chairman. I believe that we have capable hands that can build on our little success.
Let us support whoever will take over from me as the Chairman of NUJ, The Pointer Chapel as it is said that only by consistent cooperation do ants build an endearing termitvicum. For the incoming Chairman to succeed, he must ensure that the Union comes first before self and take it as an opportunity to render selfless service not only to the Union but to humanity.
Thanks for your support and may God bless us all.
COMRADE (SIR) FIDELIS EGUGBO KSJI
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