Comrade Grace Ike 

 

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council at  its monthly General Congress on Saturday, June 28, 2025 passed a vote of confidence in its Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike and the Council's State Executive Committee, SEC expressing  confidence in the capacity of the Ike-led Executive  to give a sense of belonging to the Council. The Congress further urged her to ignore all forms of distractions and to remain  focused on her agenda to uplift the Union for the overall good  of all.  


 The Communique issued after the  congress which held at the Council's Secretariat, Utako, Abuja reads as follows:

1. The Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council held its Monthly General Congress on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at their Secretariat in Utako, Abuja.In attendance at the Meeting were more than 450 members of the Union. The atmosphere at the Meeting was calm and relaxed, all through the Course of the Congress, until during the State of the Union/Nation when the attention of the Union was drawn to an affront on the Union's social media handles by a past Chairman of the FCT Council, who was allegedly hacked into its Facebook and Twitter handles and altered the name from 'NUJ FCT Council' to 'Nigeria Media Group' as well as removed the Union's logo. Evidence of the allegations were presented 


2. In response, members, in adopting a motion on the floor of the Congress, condemned in the strongest language  the wilful and destructive  actions of the  former Chairman of Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche. The Congress urged him  to desist from inviting the Union into a needless conflict that may never end in his favour, the Union instructed the State Working Committee under the leadership of Comrade Ike to immediately refer the matter to the Police for investigation in line with the the Cyber Crime Act of 2024 as amended. The Congress also Comrade  Ogbeche and all those opposed to  the current administration of the Union to stay off. 

 

3. The Union was adequately briefed on clandestine and surreptitious moves by some disgruntled members led by Comrade Emeka Nze of the Blueprint newspaper and JohnChuks Onuanyim. 


A member, Comrade Osisam Ede of Correspondents Chapel drew the attention of the Union to a wound inflicted on his mouth by Comrade Nzeh who also sent him the message that they are coming for an unlawful takeover of the Union. In the same vein, another member called the attention of the Union to  plans by some  disgruntled members who have vowed to do everything possible under the sun to drag the name of the Union into the mud. 


4. In response, members while overwhelmingly calling for the suspension of all the recalcitrant members of the Union also heeded the legal counsel of the Council's Legal Adviser that such action should follow the Constitutional process which gives all the accused persons the right to be heard under the NUJ Constitution. 


 Consequently, the Union referred Comrades Emeka Nze, Onuanyim along with their cohorts to the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee for quick investigations and recommendations to the Congress for final decisions and implementations regarding their fate.


5. On the performance of the present Executive of the Union as currently constituted, the Congress unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the Grace Ike led Executive Council. Many members present expressed their confidence in her abilities to give a sense of belonging to them while hoping that she will be allowed by her detractors to focus on good governance of the Union for the greater success of all.  


6. Planned Protest at the  FCTA Gate: The Union's attention was drawn to a planned protest by about 40,000 workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) as well as the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). The protest is scheduled for Mon June 30 to Wed July 2, 2025. Members of the Union in FCTA and FCDA Chapels will be affected by the protest. In response, the Union which commended the Hon. Minister of FCT, Chief  Nyesom Wike and  also appealed to him to hearken to the demands of the workers noting that the Minister of FCT is a man of the people and friend of the media. 




Signed:

Comr. Emmanuel Tortiv, Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee.

Comr. Benjamin Edeaghe, Member

Comr. Odita Sunday, Member.