The Nigerian Union of Journalists, Niger State Council, on Saturday elected new executives to run its affairs for the next three years.

Those elected included Abu Nmodu of the Leadership Newspaper as chairman, Urea Gana of the Newsline as vice-chairman, Usman and Mohammad Chiji of Niger Radio as secretary.

Others elected were Abubakar Kuta of the State Ministry for Information as the assistant secretary and Habiba Etsu of the same ministry as the treasurer.

Also elected were Zakari Lambata of the Niger Television Authority as the financial secretary and Ndanusa Abdullahi of the Federal Information as auditor.

The National President of NUJ, Christ Isiguzo, who inaugurated the new executives, commended the council for unanimously agreeing to return the former executives unopposed.

Mr Isiguzo, represented by Chris Asaka, Vice President, Zone D, advised the new executives to continue to work as a team for the betterment of all the members.

“I want to commend the Niger State council for the mature and peaceful manner in which you conducted your election. Niger and Edo states’ councils are now leading by example for the manner in which they conducted their elections and affairs peacefully” he said.

In his goodwill message, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, advised the new executives to sustain the confidence reposed in them by working to ensure welfare of all the members.

He said that the media remained the confidence of the nation because of its onerous task as watchdog of society.

Mr Dada urged media professionals to continue to work within the confines of the law, adding that society was always looking up to them.

Mr Nmodu, in his acceptance speech on behalf of the executives, commended the members of the union for having confidence in their leadership by re-electing them for a second tenure.

He assured that the new leadership of the union would work to prioritise the welfare of the members to further justify the confidence reposed in them.

Mr Nmodu pledged a smooth working relationship with the members of the union and promised to come up with sustainable initiatives for journalists especially after their retirement from service.

(NAN)