Analysis by Katsina Times
In February, the golden tenure of Alhaji Tukur Dan Ali came to an end after completing his second term as Chairman of the Katsina State NUJ.
Tukur Dan Ali’s leadership is regarded as the second administration that brought significant progress and development to the NUJ , one that will not be forgotten. The first was under the leadership of Abdullahi Isma Yamadi, Muhammad Danjuma, and Abdullahi Aliyu Yar’Adua, who laid the foundation for the union’s growth and advancement, including securing a permanent state secretariat, training programs, and a vehicle.
Dan Ali later attained a prominent position as the Permanent Secretary of the Katsina State Ministry of Information. He subsequently handed over leadership to his deputy, Samaila Adamu, the FRCN Kaduna correspondent in Katsina.
Adamu constituted a screening committee for aspirants, which included Abdullahi Tanko of Manhaja Newspaper, Rabiu Gslow from the State Ministry of Information, Hannatu Muhammad from NTA, and Nasir Gide from KTTV.
The sale of nomination forms was scheduled for candidates from each chapel. However, a problem arose when members of the Information Chapel were prevented from consulting a former NUJ state chairman—who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and accused member played a hide and seek game with other members of who is to purchase nomination form?
until only five hours after the deadline for form sales. At that point, a member of the Information Chapel, Hafiz Ahmed, expressed his intention to purchase the form, explaining that he had been hospitalized due to illness. He requested permission to buy the form after the official deadline had passed.
Hafiz submitted a formal complaint to the screening committee, but the committee showed no sympathy and denied him the opportunity to purchase the form, despite the fact that the Information Chapel is one of the key pillars of the NUJ.
Subsequently, members of the Information Chapel jointly signed and submitted a petition, demanding fairness and the opportunity to present candidates. The petition was sent to the NUJ national headquarters, the state council, and the election committee.
However, the committee still refused to accept their complaint.
Similarly, leaders of the KTTV Chapel submitted a letter of support, urging that the Information Chapel be allowed to participate in the election. This letter was also sent to the NUJ national headquarters, the state council, and the screening committee. Despite this, the committee ignored the appeal.
According to NUJ procedures, even if an election committee declines a complaint, it is expected to suspend proceedings and conduct an independent investigation. This, however, did not happen.
This marks the first time in NUJ history that complaints from two major chapels were disregarded, and the election proceeded, including the swearing-in of officials.
What led to this situation?
A source from the NUJ headquarters told Katsina Times that they relied on the report of the state election committee, which cleared the candidates and stated that the complaints lacked merit.
The Katsina State NUJ is known as one of the unions promoting peace and development in the country. Will this reputation endure, given the allegations of injustice by the election committee against the Information Chapel and KTTV, who both submitted complaints?
Furthermore, will the failure of the NUJ national leadership to take appropriate action affect this stability?
History will continue to remember how the election committee, some of its members, and the apparent negligence of the NUJ headquarters handled this matter.
