The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, has withdrawn from all activities of the state council following growing disagreements with the leadership of the union in the state.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency congress of the chapel held on May 27, 2026, at the Correspondents’ Chapel Office in Makurdi.
In the communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Martins Kajo, and Secretary, John Shiaondo, members announced their withdrawal from all activities of the state council pending the resolution of issues raised against the leadership of the union.
The chapel also directed all its members serving in the State Working Committee, State Executive Council and other committees of the council to immediately withdraw from such activities until further notice.
The correspondents further passed a vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the NUJ Benue State Council, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, over what they described as “unruly behaviour and repeated public embarrassment of the union over monetary issues.”
The chapel accused the NUJ chairman of factionalising the union, allegedly patronising non-members at the expense of genuine members and engaging in public altercations over financial matters.
Members also raised concerns over alleged financial mismanagement, including claims that the chairman failed to account for funds reportedly realised from schools owned by the council and donations made to the union.
According to the communiqué, the chapel expressed concern over the alleged failure of the state council leadership to account for N2 million reportedly generated from schools owned by the council, as well as N3 million allegedly received from the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, for the purchase of chairs.
The correspondents also alleged that out of the N10 million, a bus and palm trees donated by Governor Hyacinth Alia to the union, N3.5 million had allegedly not been properly accounted for.
The chapel further condemned the alleged commercial use of the NUJ bus, claiming journalists were made to pay as much as N50,000 before accessing the vehicle for official assignments.
Members equally dissociated themselves from a recent communiqué issued by the NUJ Benue State Council, particularly a purported vote of no confidence passed against the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula.
They insisted the position did not reflect the opinion of genuine members present at the congress, alleging that non-professionals and hired individuals influenced the outcome of the meeting.
The chapel, however, passed a vote of confidence in Governor Hyacinth Alia, his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, and other media handlers in the state, commending what it described as their cordial relationship with journalists and commitment to the development of the state.