The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Sokoto State Council, has directed its members in the state willing to take political appointments to resign their membership.
The Council gave the directive on Saturday in a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Dalhatu Abdullahi and Muhammad Bello, respectively.
The statement titled, “Attention to NUJ Members in Sokoto,” said the Council was adopting one of the resolutions by the NUJ National Executive Committee during the union meeting in Edo State.
“The NEC being the highest decision-making organ of the Union, resolved that any member upon receiving any political appointment should resign his membership in the Union.
“This is to avoid a situation in which the NUJ will be dragged into or seen as belonging to or supporting any political party.
“Such members are however entitled to return to the Union at the expiration of their political appointments,” it said.
The statement said a report reaching the state council indicated that political parties were now including the names of journalists in their various campaign committees especially that of publicity at local and state levels.
“We wish to remind political parties that the ethics of journalism profession disallowed any member from being partisan.
“Thus, every Nigerian has the constitutional right to elect any political party of his choice, but the ethics of the profession encourage members to remain apolitical being the fourth estate of the realm,” the statement added.
The council further directed all chapels in the state to ensure that members willing to take up political appointments should be made to tender their resignation from being members of the NUJ.
“Such members should not enjoy any of the privileges from the Chapel, Council and the National Secretariat,” it said.
