The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council calls on members of the public, government agencies, corporate organizations, and individuals to exercise caution against faceless coalitions and groups that exploit the union’s secretariat as a venue to stage press conferences under false pretenses for fraudulent purposes.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary of Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, the Union condemn the actions of unscrupulous individuals and coalitions who, in collusion with non-journalists, have misused the FCT NUJ premises to blackmail, extort, and harass unsuspecting organizations and individuals while falsely claiming to represent the Union.
It has been observed that some groups are distributing flyers announcing press conferences at the NUJ FCT Secretariat located at Plot 4, Cadastral Zone, BO5, Ekukinam Street, Utako, Abuja, with the intent to defame or blackmail targeted organizations or persons.
Some of these groups do not even show up at the scheduled events, revealing the scheme’s fraudulent nature.
The NUJ FCT Council hereby informs the public and relevant agencies that its secretariat is not available for hire by individuals, coalitions, or organizations seeking to advance personal, political, or commercial interests through deceitful or coercive means.
The FCT NUJ Secretariat stands for the integrity of the journalism profession and must not be compromised as a platform for blackmail or fraud. We strongly urge all government agencies, corporate bodies, and members of the public to verify with the FCT NUJ leadership before recognizing or attending any press conference purportedly held at the NUJ premises.
Only accredited journalists and duly recognized professional bodies within the media industry are authorized to use the facility for legitimate engagements.
The Council has intensified efforts to identify and bring to justice those behind these illicit acts, and any offenders will be reported to security authorities for prosecution.
Security and vetting procedures at the FCT NUJ secretariat have been strengthened to prevent further exploitation. NUJ FCT remains committed to upholding ethical journalism standards and calls on genuine journalists and stakeholders to cooperate in cleansing the profession of such malpractices.
E-signed
Comrade Jide Oyekunle
Secretary, NUJ FCT Council
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