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| Elected officers |
By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, on Friday, re-elected Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu of Authority newspaper and member of Correspondents Chapel as Chairman.
Odogwu pooled 173 votes to defeat the immediate past Vice Chairman of the union and member of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Comrade Ngozi Obileri who gathered 40 votes.
Also elected was Comrade Chibuzo Obidike of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) who garnered 168 votes against Comrade Ogemdi Ozoemenam of Odenigbo FM (Living Christ Chapel) that pooled 45 votes.
Other officers won unopposed and included Dr Okechukwu Onuegbu of Blueprint newspaper, State Secretary; Comrade Beatrice Onuchukwu of the Pointer newspaper, Vice Chairman, both hail from Correspondents' Chapel.
Others were Comrade Chinyere Ogbuagu of State Information Chapel, Assistant Secretary; and Comrade Ogochukwu Onwukwe of State Information, Financial Secretary; while the office of Internal Auditor was not contested for.
The National President, NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, represented by the Secretary, South East C, Comrade Eze Adiukwu, who officiated the process, commended the contestants and voters for outcome of the poll and charged them to show solidarity to the winners so as to move the union forward.
In acceptance speech, the reelected State Chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu commended Anambra State government for refusing to intervene in the process, while promising to reach out to his opponents as well as run an open door policy although.
The State Chairman, NLC, Comrade Humphrey Emeka Nwafor noted that labour valued contribution of journalists and media generally in democratic system and urged them to uphold the ethical codes with a view to build a better society.
Addressing the congress after the election, the member, House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Victor Ogene charged journalist to hold government at all levels accountable in budget implication.
According to Ogene, budgets of most state government do not contain specific amounts appropriate for specified project.
"What the budget estimates of the state governments unlike national budget contain are mainly sectoral allocations without details of the various projects earmarked for implementation and the amount. It is disheartening that some state lawmakers do not know the details of the state budget they approve for the governor to implement", Ogene stated.
He also decried that investigative journalism was dwindling and tasked journalists to sit up, and, be alive to their responsibilities as the watchdog of the society.