NUJ

 

NIGERIAN UNION OF JOURNALISTS IN RETROSPECT (HISTORY AND FUNCTION)

The name ‘NUJ’ was struck out between 1961-1969 from the list of Registered Trade Union because the Union failed to operate as a Trade Union. The Nigerian Union of Journalist was established on March 15, 1955 under a six-man Inaugural Executive Council at the premises of St. Paul’s school, Breadfruit Street, Lagos.

It was established by some nationalist with the fire of patriotism; amongst them are the first Gov. General of Nigeria, the late Owelle of Onitsha, the R.T Hon (Dr) Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first premier of the defunct Western Region, the late chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa; the late Herbert Macaulay and chief H.O Davies.

Some other writers also had a taste of western education and particularly in the field of journalism. They were determined to push for the struggle to commensurate wages. Chief Olusegun Oyesanya, a member of London Institute of Journalism also formed National Union of Journalism in Britain. The NUJ has a working constitution, which remains the encyclopedia of its rules including the election of its national leaders.

The function of NUJ is to protect, preserve and elevate the image of journalism for effective and efficient performance. NUJ is the only umbrella that protects journalist and guide the practice of journalism in Nigeria through its constitution and the code of ethics. The role of NUJ is to protect the interest of journalists, engage in the training and retraining of journalist and guide the practice of journalism in Nigeria.