By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
The Society of Nigerian Broadcasters, SNB, has replied Ekiti State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists on allegation that SNB is illegal body coercing its members to join the professional body, which is trending on internet.
According to the organization in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, in the said publication, it was reported that the Council referred to Society of Nigerian Broadcasters as an “illegal body coercing its members to join the professional body”.
The publication, he said, also claimed the Society is being used to “defraud” members.
Dr. Bamgbose on behalf of SNB stated, “It is pertinent to state clearly that the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters is a voluntary professional body which was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission since 1994.
“The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria was mandated in 2013 to rescucitate the Society which now has over 2,000 members across the country including Broadcasters that have retired and those that are in private practice.
“The Society of Nigerian Broadcasters has never operated in the dark as it has conducted series of membership induction including the National inductions held in Lagos and Abuja.
“The inductions in Abuja was held at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel while that of Lagos was hosted by the famous Channels Television in December, 2022 during which notable Broadcasters including Chief Yemi Farounbi, Prof Tonnie Iredia, Dr.John Momoh, Mr Sola Omole, Malam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed,Dr Segun Aderiye, Chief Tony Akiotu, Hajia Saa Ibrahim, Dr Mansur Liman and hundreds of young vibrant Broadcasters from private and public broadcast media outfits among others were inducted.
“The Society of Nigerian Broadcasters has membership in nearly all broadcast stations in the country including but not limited to NTA, FRCN, VON, Channels TV, Silverbird, Daar Communications, all State owned media organisations etc”.
He added, “Inauguration of State chapters and induction of new members have been conducted in some States of the Federation.
“In all these, there was no record nor reports of coercion in any State until the current information that is trending through Ekiti State Council of NUJ”.
According to Dr. Bamgbose, “It is unfortunate that a registered body of professionals in broadcasting can be described as illegal with the nasty insinuation that SNB is set out “to defraud its members”.
“To set the records straight the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters was registered in 1994 by eminent broadcasters with Dr Yemi Farounbi, Elder Diran Orekunrin, Alhaji Abdulrahman Michika and Mr Nkena Ndaguba all of Nigeria Television Authority and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria as Directors.
“SNB has its records up-to-date with the CAC.
“The founding fathers as well as the handlers of SNB were not unawares of the roles of industrial unions in the media industry and therefore did not establish the purely professional body to rival or diminish the crucial roles of such recognised industrial unions/professional body including the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Radio, Television and Arts workers Union (RATTAWU ) which have their clear mandates stated in relevant statues.
“The Society is a professional body that is similar in nature with ICAN, ANA, NIPR, NSE etc.
“Membership of a professional body such as the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters is not constrained by age, length of service or retirement.
“Society of Nigerian Broadcasters is a voluntary professional body that has come to stay to serve as a coordinating body and platform for serving and retired professional Broadcasters in Nigeria.
“Its services to the broadcast industry is more important now than ever before because of the upsurge in the broadcast stations and the need for training of practitioners to achieve and ensure professionalism.
“It may interest the public that SNB has embarked on massive training of its members with workshops conducted in Abuja, Lagos and Osogbo while pre- induction trainings were held for new members in Kano, Ogun and Lagos respectively.
“It is necessary to add that a professional body like the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters is not synonymous to a trade union, rather a non- governmental platform for training, mentoring and advocacy with the mandate to bring both new and old practitioners together for periodical meetings, reviews,seminars, workshops and conferences.
“In conclusion, we wish to make it abundantly clear that Society of Nigerian Broadcasters is a legal entity and a voluntary professional body that serves as a platform for training, retraining, mentoring and professionalism in the broadcast media.
“We therefore say that the story of coercion is not only untrue but alien to the vision and the mission of the legally recognised professional body.
“For further information about SNB please visit….www.snb.com.ng”.
