Hear him! MY PROFILE
Dear colleagues, it is with utmost sense of responsibility that I Atunbi Bamidele, an Assistant Director, News and Current Affairs with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) solemly offer myself to serve our great union (Nigeria Union of Journalists) and its members in the capacity of its President as a servant leader. It is apposite to state right from the outset that as a thorough breed journalist, I have served in various capacities as a member of the National Executive Council of the NUJ for fourteen (14) years with unblemished and untainted records, I do not see the Presidency of our great union as a place to lord but a place to serve diligently, advocate and protect the interests of our precious members. By the grace of God and by your popular votes and belief in my person, I have been privileged to serve in various positions at chapel, state and National levels of our great union.
Secretary NTA chapel: 1998-2001
Secretary Ondo State Council: 2001-2005
Chairman Ondo state Council: 2005-2011
Vice President Zone B: 2012- 2015.
National Treasurer 2021-2024.
The Presidency of the NUJ is a public office which will definitely X-ray my academic career. As at today, I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Diploma in Mass Communication, Bachelor of Law (LL.B) and B.L from Nigerian Law School.
This presidential candidate is a detribalized Nigerian that is happily married and the marriage in blessed with children.
Achievements:
It is apt to bring to the fore my moderate achievements as a dogged labour leader that gives premium to the welfare of its members.
* Through proper husbandry of the union’s resources, as Chairman of the Ondo State Council of the NUJ, our administration was able to save cost and purchased a Toyota Corolla for the union nine months to the expiration of our tenure.
* Resuscitated Ondo NAWOJ that was in limbo on assumption of office.
* Secured weigh-in allowance for Journalists in the Ondo state Ministry of Information in 2010 before the Federal Government approved it for their counterparts at the Federal level.
* Got approval for 250 plots of land for the use of Journalists in Ondo state, an opening which members didn’t take advantage of.
* Purchased the plot of land in the East wing of the Ondo state NUJ Press Centre for expansion.
* Brought back the elders of the union who had deserted the Press Centre to form League of Veteran Journalists.
* Through the assistance of Government sunk borehole at the Press Centre that served our centre since 2000 till date.
* Maintained the union’s clinic at no cost to members and their families.
* Participated actively in all struggles that brought smiles on the faces of workers in Ondo State between 2005 and 2011.
* Got 22 sacked workers of the Ondo State Radio Vision Corporation reinstated a feat yet to be beaten by any industrial union in the state.
* Got two journalists sacked in Owena Press Ltd Akure reinstated.
* Brought integrity into leadership and mutual respect to members by all right thinking people of the state.
* Warded off attempts to trample on members’ rights and ensure job security.
* Gave the Press Centre a facelift.
* It is equally on record that as a member of the National Executive Committee and Central Working Committee, I have contributed my quota to the development of our great union at the national level.
* I was privileged to be the Chairman of the committee that drafted the subsisting NUJ Constitution.
Action Plans for The Next 3 Years
1. Premium to member’s welfare:
(A) Media Salary Structure
(B) Continuation of insurance policy
(C) Maintaining NUJ safety fund
(D) In line with UN’s treaty, our administration will collaborate with all relevant agencies on safety of journalists in Nigeria.
(E) Job Security
(F) Our administration will stand tall against casualisation of workers in the media industry.
Quackery will not equally be tolerated.
(G )The NUJ as at today depends largely on other sources that are not sustainable, apart from widening the scope of funding for our great union, our administration will put a stop to the deductions of check off dues from members nationwide to another industrial union.
2. Education:
(A) Improve the standard of International Institute of Journalism.
(B) Prioritizing training and retraining of members.
(C) Encouraging media establishments to place premium on training and retraining of journalists.
3. Infrastructural development:
Our administration will pursue with vigor infrastructural development at the National secretariat of our great union. Since administration is continuum, we shall give priority to the IIJ project and other infrastructural facilities.
4. Trade Unionism:
(A) Media related- our administration shall collaborate with all affiliates and media related associations like NGE, NPAN, NAWOJ, SWAN, etc to advocate and secure better welfare packages and conducive working environment for practitioners across the country.
Our administration will encourage NAWOJ, SWAN and sporting activities among Journalists all over the Country. With this we intend to use sports as a unifying factor within our Union.
B Other Unions:
We shall equally collaborate with the NLC, TUC and all unions /associations that share our vision of better condition of service for an average Nigerian worker to achieve optimal productivity in the labour force.
My Pledge: I pledge myself in the NUJ Rejuvenation mission, to the above as a social contract between me and members of our great Union.
My request: I humbly and sincerely solicit your votes to give me the mandate to pursue all these lofty goals on your behalf.
