The crisis within the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has deepened as the Council Chairman, Abdulateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, continues to defy directives from the National Secretariat of the union.
Despite receiving a letter dated July 25, 2025, from the national leadership instructing the Council to reverse an alleged illegal ₦10,000 levy imposed on new members and reinstate those removed from the Council’s official WhatsApp group, the state council has yet to comply.
The letter, signed by the NUJ National Secretary, Mr. Achike Chude, stated that “the Council is required to begin the process of implementing the above directives.” However, seven days after its issuance, the Kwara NUJ leadership has reportedly failed to act on the matter.
Instead, during the union’s Congress held on July 30, 2025, Mr. Ahmed declared that “nothing has changed,” and insisted that the Council would proceed with the levy. He cited an outdated registration form, which has since been replaced with a new format on the NUJ national website introduced earlier this year.
The stance has sparked outrage among some members of the union who accused the chairman of flouting the union’s constitution and undermining the authority of the national body.
Speaking to our reporter , some concerned members expressed disappointment, describing the chairman’s action as a “deliberate act of defiance” against the national secretariat.
“By disregarding the directive of the national body, the Kwara NUJ Chairman has not only violated the NUJ Constitution but has also posed a serious threat to the unity and integrity of the union,” one member said.
They warned that the apparent inaction of the national body could embolden other state councils to disobey directives, potentially plunging the union into disorder.
“There is a growing perception that the National Secretariat is now a toothless bulldog. If it cannot enforce its own rules or protect the constitution it was set up to defend, then its credibility is at stake,” another member noted.
The aggrieved members also alleged that the Kwara NUJ was degenerating into what they termed a “rogue council,” accusing its leadership of abusing power, infringing on members’ rights, and introducing illegal financial burdens.
They warned that such actions were damaging the image and operations of the union at both the state and national levels.
“The Union’s reputation as a democratic, rights-driven professional body is under attack. When those entrusted with leadership roles begin to suppress dissent and violate the Union’s constitution, the entire profession suffers,” the members added.
They called on the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NUJ to urgently wade into the matter and enforce the directives issued to the Kwara Council.
“This matter is no longer a local dispute; it has become a national crisis that needs urgent intervention. The NUJ was built on the principles of justice, accountability, and press freedom. Those values are now under threat,” they said.
The National Secretariat, in its letter, had described the actions of the Kwara Council as “unconstitutional” and cited several infractions, including mismanagement of union affairs, imposition of unlawful levies, and unresolved leadership crises in some chapels.
It remains to be seen what steps the national leadership will take in the coming days as pressure mounts on it to assert its authority and preserve the integrity of the union.