Anthony Bassey Emerges A’lbom NUJ Correspondents’ Chairman
...Pledges Transparent, Accountable Leadership
The members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa lbom State Council, have elected Comrade Anthony Bassey of the Nation Newspaper as its new chairman.
Bassey, popularly called Akra Bee, was returned unopposed as he was the only candidate to contest the coveted position at the Chapels Triennial Delegates Conference. He took over from Comrade Idongesit Ashameri of the Daily Independent, who served out her tenure after a little over four and a half years in office.
Others elected at the election on Thursday include Comrade Isaiah Eka of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as Vice Chairman, Comrade Udeme Utip of The Tribune as Secretary, Comrade Lovina Emole of the National Ambassador as Assistant Secretary, Comrade Iniobong Ekponta of Leadership as Treasurer, and Emeka Samuel of Pilot Newspaper as Financial Secretary, while the position of Auditor was not contested.
In his post-election speech, Comrade Anthony Bassey assured members of improved welfare and a more united chapel, with transparency and accountability as the focal points of his administration.
He added that the Correspondents Chapel being the flagship chapel of the NUJ, his leadership will strive to take the chapel to higher ground, expressing deep-seated gratitude to the stakeholders of the chapel for standing behind his emergence as the new chairman of the chapel.
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He pledged to actively carry members along in all NUJ activities and to liaise with every necessary governmental and non-governmental ministry, agency, and parastatal to ensure a free and unhindered flow of information for the betterment of society.
The new chairman had earlier in his 10-point agenda assured members of improved welfare, more capacity trainings, the installation of free internet facilities in the chapel, robust editorial engagements, the abolishment of all obnoxious rules that are anti-progress, ensuring a high sense of transparency and accountability, and synergizing with relevant agencies, among others.
He also commended the ELECO for doing a wonderful job by ensuring a seamless and crisis-free transition in the chapel.
Among those who witnessed the event are Akparawa James Edet, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information; the state chairman of NUJ, Comrade Amos Etuk, represented by his vice; Comrade Margaret Moore, state secretary of NUJ; Comrade Dominic Akpan, chairman of the Federated Chapel; and Comrade Nsibiet John, among others.
