Abia NUJ to Boycott Activities of Umuahia North Mayor, Bars Members from Covering Council

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Abia State Council has resolved to boycott all activities and engagements of the Umuahia North Council Chairman, Smart Iheoma as well as that of the Local Government Area.

This is as the Union has also barred its members (journalists) from capturing the said Mayor or his Council in their reports in all conventional Media, hinging its reason on disrespect to the Journalism profession, as well as members of the fourth estate of the realm.

The decision was contained in a 10-point Communique issued at the end of the NUJ monthly Congress for the month of June, 2025.

The well-attended Congress by members from the various Chapels and chaired by the Council Chairman, Comrade Chidi Asonye.

According to the communique, the Union “noted with dismay, insults hurled at journalists on environmental sanitation duty of May 31, 2025, by the Mayor of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Smart Iheoma wherein he, not only abused Abia journalists, calling them unprintable names, including “imbeciles” and “criminals,” but also threatened to bar them from covering state government functions.”

The Union condemned such action of an elected official of government even describing it as unbecoming of a person in such a exalted office.

The Abia State Counciil of the NUJ further warned that it would sanction any registered member of Union who goes against this resolution on the Chairman of Umuahia North LGA, including the medium that covers or reports events emanating there from.

The Communique while noting that the Council has enjoyed a very robust and cordial relationship with the Abia State Government, pledged to continue to do so

It however cautioned that it will not tolerate actions that “disrespects the noble and onerous responsibility of informing, educating and entertaining resting on the shoulders of journalists as did the Umuahia North Council Chairman.”