Fifteen aggrieved members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents’ Chapel in Kano, have jointly petitioned the leadership of the Chapel, demanding explanations over alleged misconduct and financial irregularities within the body.
In a letter dated May 1, 2025, and addressed to the Secretary of the Chapel, the journalists expressed concerns over what they described as a series of actions that contravene the constitutional provisions guiding the operations of the Union.
The petition, signed by Abdulmumin Murtala, a correspondent with Leadership Newspaper, on behalf of the concerned members, highlighted several issues they claim are undermining transparency and accountability in the Chapel’s leadership.
Key among the allegations is the lack of clarity surrounding the disbursement of N5 million said to have been allocated for a special assignment. The project involved members travelling across local government areas in Kano to document the achievements of the state government in the education sector. The petitioners say the funds remain unaccounted for.
Additionally, the members questioned the continuous transfer of Chapel funds into the personal bank account of the Chairman, a practice they argue violates the operational guidelines of the NUJ and fosters mistrust among members.
“In the last six months, two members of the Chapel were unilaterally removed and denied their monthly stipends from the state government without any formal explanation. The whereabouts of these withheld allowances are still unknown,” the petition noted.
The group called on the Chapel leadership to provide a comprehensive explanation regarding the highlighted concerns, stressing the importance of upholding the union’s integrity and constitutional values.
To confirm the authenticity of the letter, Peak Newspaper Nigeria contacted Abdulmumin Murtala, whose signature appeared on the document. He confirmed to this newspaper that he personally signed the letter on behalf of the fifteen members of the Chapel.
It was gathered that the monthly allowance of N30,000 each from the state government for the two members suspended for almost 6 months have not been accounted for.
Similarly, the leadership of the chapel was also accused of favouritism on who can attend assignment or not and autocratic leadership
Peak Newspaper Nigeria also contacted the Chairman of the Chapel, Aminu Garko, who confirmed that he had received the letter, assured that appropriate action would be taken.
He, however, declined to provide further comments, stating that it is an internal matter and will be resolved within the Chapel.
