SWAN Lauds NUJ's Decision On Fresh Elections As Right Step
In Right Direction
The President of Sports Writers' Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Comrade Ahmed Aigbona, on Thursday restated the commitment and support of his National Executive Committee (NEC) for the decision of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to wade into the lingering leadership tussle in the Association.
Aigbona said fresh elections, as ordered for by the
NUJ, would definitely address the
leadership crisis which has lasted for close to two years now.
In a statement signed by the Association's
Secretary-General, Comrade Mike Oboh, Aigbona urged all sports writers who are
members of NUJ across the 36 states of the federation and FCT to prepare for
tne forthcoming National SWAN Elections as stated by the Union.
"Already, a seven-man committee has been set up by the
NUJ ---- three from NUJ and two each from the factional groups. This is a
welcome development," he said.
Citing some sections of SWAN Statutes, Aigbona noted that
what makes an individual to become a Full Member of the Association is to first
of all be a member of NUJ.
"So, a practising journalist who works in the Sports
Unit or Desk of a media organisation is a Full Member, with all the
accompanying rights to vote and be voted for.
"But an individual who is no longer a member of NUJ is
automatically not a Full Member of SWAN."
He said further that Article 7 Section A of SWAN's Statutes
stipulates that any Journalist with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)
employed or earning his living as a reporter, researcher, editor, commentator,
producer, photographer or cameraman in
the sports section of a Newspaper, Magazine, News Agency, Periodical, Radio or
Television station in Nigeria, shall be eligible to register as a full member.
"Therefore, it is clearly stated that full membership
shall be lost through, either
voluntary resignation, expulsion, loss of membership of NUJ,
movement to any other profession, death, among others as provided by the
Statutes of SWAN," Aigbona said.