NUJ: Dr Akinreti Flags Off Re-election Campaign In Lagos With “Consolidation 2020”

By Jumu’ah Abiodun

The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, has flagged off his re-election campaign for the September 29th poll in the State.

The launching of the campaign tagged: “Consolidation 2020” was held at the Council Secretariat, Ladi Lawal House, Ikeja, Lagos, with strict Social Distancing following government’s guidelines on Coronavirus.

Announcing his achievements within the three years of the administration ahead of the forthcoming NUJ elections Akinreti said: “Before my emergence three years ago, the leadership of the Union was not accountable to us. This is evident in the monumental fraud discovered by the finance committee and auditors report. That time, only the Council Chairman receives alerts of funds coming in and going out of the Union’s account. Today, there are three signatories to the accounts – the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer receive alerts for any transaction on the account.”

According to Akinreti, the Lagos state council of the Union under his leadership has witnessed tremendous improvement in the area of Welfare of the members which include: Payment of dividends to Chapels from the NUJ Light House rents, Payments of Hospital Bills, Surgeries, Drugs, Academic or School Bills, Graduations, Marriages, Obituaries, and other social Ceremonies,as well as palliatives to members during global lockdown induced by the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

On the Defending Journalists Rights, Akinreti, narrated he has to continue discussion with the Vanguard and The Nation newspapers managements over plights of members. He also stepped in for the release of Journalists arrested over Revolution Now protests, and holding talks with security agencies over arrests of Journalists during COVID-19 lockdown and other harassments.

The media guru explained further that under his administration, he has initiated NUJ/Badagry Community Radio License which is awaiting approval under Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), while he has equal Resuscitate  the NUJ Fair Press Magazine.

Part of his scorecard is the investment in Agriculture with the Purchase of land for Agricultural purposes at Kobape, Ogun state and lease of land at Farm Settlement areas of Lanlate in Oyo state.

Akinreti reiterated his administration has retrieved NUJ Light House property from the former manager and continue in pursuance of refund of the failed Pen Jewel Housing Scheme.

“Three years ago, I campaigned on restoring the integrity of our great Union. Today, to the glory of God, I stand before you to say that we have been able to restore the integrity of our Union to a great extend. In recognition of this feat, the state government gave the Union N25 million for the remodelling of our Secretariat at Iyalla street Ikeja. A two-storey edifice is standing now as our Secretariat. We are reaching out to the state government and corporate organisations to assist the Union to complete the Turnkey Project.”

“In the last three years, we run union finances on budgetary allocations duly approved by the State Executive Council and Congress. There are records for every transaction as I ensure that vouchers are raised for every money spent. Also, for the first time, the financial status of the Union is read and discussed at Congress, even though the Constitution says it should be done quarterly. In the past, it used to be during elections.”

“Provided palliatives to members during COVID-19 pandemic across the chapels through Lagos State Government, religious group and corporate organizations.”

On Abaren land , the NUJ chairman said

“We are all aware of the Progress on the Abaren land. We have reallocated over 1,700 plots the land to subscribers. We are also working on how members can get the refund for the dollars paid for the failed PenJewel project. Petition renewed with the EFCC as directed by the National Executive Committee, Nigeria Union of Journalists on alleged funds diversions along with the bank transactions.

Dr Akinreti assures that Engagement with Public and Private Sector for benefits of the union and its members are ongoing. The companies are Dangote, Larfage, BUA cement companies, Nestle, Nigerian Breweries, MAN, NIMASA, NPA, Shippers Council, Nigerian Railways Corporation, among others .

With regards to educational assistance, Akinreti said: “Members who gained admission for Diploma and post-graduate studies especially Mass Communication and related courses at various institutions including the National Open University were assisted from Voice of Nigeria, FRCN, Radio Lagos /Eko FM and Traffic Radio.”

Akinreti while concluding his speech explained his administration successfully paid the backlog of insurance for NUJ Light House and renewal of the scheme.

In the areas of media training and capacity building, he stated that “Over 200 hundred Members benefited from media training within and outside Nigeria. The first foreign training in Egypt went to Vanguard newspapers. The second foreign training on Migration through the National secretariat in collaboration with German agency attracted members across chapels. This led to the formation of JIFORM pioneered by Ajibola Abayomi,” Akinreti concluded.

Other contestants who played up at the campaign are Mr Raymond Tedunjaye of the New Nigerian Newspaper, who is contesting as Secretary, Iyabo Wale-Eri of NTA Lagos, for the post of Financial Secretary and Isaac Ayodele of the Nation Newspaper, as Auditor.

Tedunjaye asserted he will bring his wealth of experience in the media to the union when elected and also to represent the print media at all level with the “Consolidation 2020” team.