A’Ibom NUJ Chairman Urges Members To Remain Committed To Union’s Success

By Edidiong Obot
UYO
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, has called on leaders and members of the union to remain steadfast in their commitment to the growth and success of the union.
Comrade Nsibiet John made the appeal when he received members of The Pioneer Chapel of the NUJ during a courtesy visit to the State Council in Uyo, recently.
  John commended the chapel for reviving its cooperative society, describing the initiative as excellent and massive, and pledged the state council’s support to ensure its success.
“As a chapel chairman, you know the pressure you face daily. You must be able to manage your people,” he said, assuring that the council will look into issues such as members defaulting in payment of union entitlements.
On the matter of the weigh-in allowance, the NUJ boss disclosed that the State council had engaged the head of civil service extensively, particularly on training and retraining of journalists. According to him, the Head of Service expressed willingness to act quickly once a memo is submitted.
“I am optimistic that something positive will be done in that direction. Already, other States are benefitting from it. We will continue to follow it up, because members’ welfare is our priority,” he stressed.
While urging chapel leaders to stand by the council, the State NUJ chairman reaffirmed that the union will continue to work as a family.
“No matter how hard you work, some people will still say you are not working. But do not be deterred. Keep doing what you know how to do, and do it well,” he advised.
He thanked The Pioneer Chapel for being the first among the chapels to pay a courtesy visit after the inauguration of the reconstituted State council executive, noting that the gesture would not be taken for granted.
Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of The Pioneer Chapel of NUJ, Comrade Enobong Essien, congratulated the State chairman and his executive on their landslide victory at the 2025 State Triennial Delegates’ Conference.
Essien lauded the achievements of the State council within a short period, under John, and prayed for more grace for the leadership.
He explained that the revival of the chapel’s cooperative society was borne out of the need to prioritise members’ welfare, adding that the cooperative, now managed by respected and disciplined officials, has become a reliable source of support for members and staff of the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC), especially in times of emergency.
Other achievements of the chapel’s executive, he noted, include consistent support for members as well as unifying the chapel.
Essien pledged the chapel’s continued collaboration and support for the State council, stressing that as the parent, the chapel found it necessary to identify with and strengthen the council’s leadership.
Present during the visit were members of the State Working Committee, chairman of the State Information Chapel, Comrade Edifon Obot, as well as executive members of The Pioneer Chapel.