The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said the Senate press corps lacks the legal mandate to give Dino Melaye a senator of the year award.
Melaye and 14 other senators were nominated for a series of awards at a ceremony at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja on Monday.
But in separate statements, Abdulwaheed Odusile, national president of NUJ, and Ella Abech, chairman of FCT council of the union, said the union had cancelled the award ceremony.
The NUJ said the press corps of the Senate was not recognised by the constitution of the NUJ and as such, has no locus standi to present awards to the lawmakers.
Odusile said: “The Union dissociates itself from the so-called conferment as it did not comply with the provision of the Constitution of NUJ on such issues, hence the nullification of the award.”
On his part, Abechi described the award ceremony as illegal, saying it lacks legitimacy by the constitution of the NUJ.
“The press corps is not a legitimate organ to decide who to give awards to,” he said.
