News

Corruption and Accountability in Journalism: A Call for Reform within the NUJ-FCT Council

Published

1 year ago

November 3, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

ADVERTISEMENT

Journalism remains a critical profession that educates the public, ensures governmental accountability, and immensely enriches societal discourse. It strives to uphold ethical standards and maintain public trust, even in the face of challenges presented by a rapidly evolving media landscape.

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is instrumental not only in safeguarding the rights of journalists but also in influencing the media landscape within Nigeria. The union actively promotes the professional development of its members, advocates for press freedom, and contributes to the enhancement of democratic processes in the nation.

A comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities encountered by the union is critical for fully appreciating the contemporary dynamics of labour relations, the rights of workers, and the welfare of journalists.

Regrettably, developments within the NUJ-FCT Council in the last six ( 6) years has fallen short of the noble ideals and expectations of the founders of the union.The council is marred by corruption, self- serving and largescale unwholesome practices among its leadership. These issues not only undermine the union’s effectiveness but also jeopardise the integrity of the journalism profession.

The council’s misappropriation of its resources for individual benefits has engendered an atmosphere of profound mistrust and misgivings.

The allegations of extortion through the improper use of the council’s letterhead for clandestine deals are particularly alarming and extremely worrisome.

Furthermore, the practice of communicating with high-ranking public officials and politicians across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to intimidate them with spurious allegations for the purpose of financial exploitation underscores an immediate necessity for systemic reforms within the council.

During electoral cycles, the parties that embody an “entitled mentality” within the council are able to perpetuate their dubious practices and reinforce the status quo by effectively sidelining independent-minded individuals who seek to contest for various elective positions in preference for those selectively handpicked and “anointed” by the coterie within the council.

The clique prefers “anointing” individuals with questionable reputations, particularly those with documented cases of financial misconduct and corruption in anti-graft agencies. This strategy enables them to leverage blackmail and exert control over these individuals to ensure compliance with their personal demands.

Given that the council lacks annual appropriations from the government, its primary asset is its goodwill. Thus, it is important to entrust this intangible asset to individuals who demonstrate integrity and can be trusted.

In the last six (6)years, there has been no evidence of audited financial statements from the council, and all financial transactions have been conducted in a state of complete obliqueness.

For example, tens (10s) of millions of Naira was collected from the electronic shop within the premises of the council, the details of the transaction has been shielded in secrecy and they are expecting to receive and share the rent money of the same property which is due for renewal before the end of 2024.

This raises an important question regarding the identity of the individuals who serve as signatories to the council’s bank accounts.

Therefore, it is imperative to dismantle the entrenched cabal within the NUJ-FCT Council in the upcoming elections by ensuring that only independent-minded candidates of integrity are elected to the various positions.

In conclusion, this call for reform extends beyond a mere transition in leadership; it seeks to restore the council’s credibility in its role as a guardian of journalistic values. It underscores the necessity of prioritizing the collective welfare of its members over individual interests, thereby reaffirming the council’s commitment to ethical journalism and the broader journalistic community.

Maryann Eze

Public Affairs Analyst

News

Sad! Ex-NFF Chairman is dead

Published

9 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), died on Saturday after a prolonged illness.

His death was confirmed by former Secretary-General of the NFA, Sani Ahmed Toro.

Galadima was a prominent figure in Nigerian sports administration, having led the NFA before it was restructured into the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He also served as Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council between 1981 and 1983.

Born in 1951 in Fagge, Kano, Galadima had a long-standing career in sports governance.

He was a member of the National Sports Commission and was elected Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee in 1985, a position he held until 1987.

He was later reappointed as Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council and continued to play key roles at both state and national levels.

Galadima also served on the Presidential Monitoring Committee on the development of sports facilities for the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship, which was initially scheduled to be hosted in Nigeria but later relocated due to health-related challenges.

In addition, he was a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Youth Championship Organising Committee.

In 2002, he was elected Chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association, further cementing his legacy as one of the country’s influential sports administrators.
Burial arrangements will be announced later according to family sources.

News

11 die, 32 injured in Bauchi tanker crash

Published

9 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

Tragedy struck the Panshanu Hill stretch of the Bauchi-Jos federal highway on Friday evening as a horrific multi-vehicle collision claimed the lives of eleven persons, leaving thirty-two others with life-threatening injuries.

The victims, including women and children, were reportedly burnt beyond recognition when the vehicles involved in the crash erupted into a massive fireball upon impact.

According to a crash report released by the RS12.14
Toro Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps
(FRSC), the accident occurred at approximately 6:40
PM. FRSC personnel, who arrived at the scene within ten minutes of the report, battled to rescue survivors from the mangled, smoking wreckage.

The crash involved a white MAN mini-tanker, identified as part of the Nigerian Police fleet, and a white FIAT J5 Boxer commercial bus with registration number KTU624XY.
Preliminary investigations by the FRSC identified
“dangerous driving” and the use of “worn-out tyres” as the probable causes of the carnage. The impact, which occurred on a single, unpaved carriageway, sent both vehicles off the road and triggered an immediate inferno.

A breakdown of the casualties paints a heart-wrenching picture of the disaster. Out of the 43 persons involved in the accident, 11 fatalities were recorded, comprising one male adult, three male children, five female adults, and two female children.
The 32 injured survivors, including five male children, 19 female adults, seven female children, and one male adult, were rushed to a nearby general hospital for emergency treatment.

The Bauchi State Command of the FRSC has reiterated its warning to motorists to avoid overspeeding and ensure their vehicles are in roadworthy condition, especially when navigating the treacherous bends of the Panshanu Hill.

News

JAMB: See How To Check, Print 2026 UTME Result Slip

Published

12 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

The 2026 UTME, which began on April 16, is expected to continue until April 22 across examination centres nationwide.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Friday announced that it had released the results of 632,788 candidates who sat for the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

A statement by the JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin noted that the results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, he advised candidates to send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number (SIM) used during registration.
He, however, said that at this stage, candidates may view their results only; printing is not yet available.
The 2026 UTME, which began on April 16, is expected to continue until April 22 across examination centres nationwide.

How To Print Your Official Result Slip
The result slip carries the candidate’s passport photograph, full scores, and details required for admission processing.
It will be made available for printing on JAMB’s e-Facility portal at efacility.jamb.gov.ng and attracts a fee of N1,500.
Once activated, candidates should follow the steps below.

– Visit efacility.jamb.gov.ng.
– Log in with your registered email address and password.
– On your dashboard, click Print Result Slip.
– Click Continue with Payment and pay the N1,500 fee.

– Select 2026 as the examination year and enter your JAMB registration number.
– Download and print the result slip.

Check Your Score Via SMS
– Make sure you have at least N50 airtime on the phone number linked to your JAMB registration.
– Send UTMERESULT to 55019.
– Your score will be delivered to you via SMS.

Other Tips
– If you have forgotten your password or email address, use the Forgot Password option on the portal or visit a JAMB office with your registration details.
– Keep multiple printed copies of your result slip, as institutions typically request it during screening and admission.
– Use only JAMB’s official websites — efacility.jamb.gov.ng or portal.jamb.gov.ng to avoid scams.

JAMB Cautioned Against Manipulation
Candidates were strongly cautioned against manipulating the SMS received from the official platform (55019/66019) to fabricate or alter scores with the intent to mislead others, including parents.
“Such actions constitute a serious criminal offence. The Board treats such misconduct with the utmost gravity.”
“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means. Any candidate found culpable will face the full consequences of the law”, JAMB warned.
The examination is ongoing, and results will continue to be released as they become available.