Judgement: ASCSN members not satisfied, go for Appeal
… Calls on security agencies to remain alert for any crisis attempt by individuals, group into the union
From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
Following the recent Court Judgement delivered on the 9th July 2024 by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in favour of Mr Bola Innocent Audu, the former president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) to reinstated and complete his tenure till 29th July 2024, the present leadership and members of the Association has not satisfied with the ruling of the judgement decided to go for appeal as part of their fundamental rights.
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja on the judgement, the new President of the Association, Comrade (Dr.) Tommy Etim Okon has expressed that by appeal, it meant that Innocent Bola Audu has not been reinstated.
According to him, the leadership and members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) are also aware of the clandestine move by Innocent Bola Audu trying to laws into his hands by threatening to reinstate himself either at night or day with some hoodlums.
Believing that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic where you have the certified copy of the true ruling and you feel that is an execution order.
Comrade Okon called on the security agencies of government to be alert for any attempt either by individuals or groups of individuals to bring crisis into the union as members of the Union are not going to fold their arms and look at them.
Saying that appeal is their constitutional right guaranteed under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and therefore he said, it is not a crime for them to say they are not certified by the ruling.
The President of the Association and also a former first Deputy President of the Association observed that his Association being one of the leading affiliate unions of the Nigeria Labour Congress is law-abiding and that is why the leadership and members of the Association decided to go for appeal.
The ASCSN President while further explaining the judgement said” Based on the court judgement that was delivered on 9th July 2024 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Bola Innocent Audu should be reinstated to complete his tenure in 29th of July, 2024 having being dissatisfied with the ruling, the leadership and members and the organs of the association of senior civil servants of Nigeria decided as our fundamental rights to appeal the judgement and also apply for a stay of execution.
By that therefore means that Innocent Bola Audu has not been reinstated because of our appeal and stay of execution.
“We are also aware of the clandestine move to take laws into his hands by threatening to reinstate himself either at night or day with some hoodlums.
“It is proper to put on record that Nigeria is not a banana republic where you have the certified copy of the true ruling and you feel that is an execution order.
“You are aware that appeal is our fundamental right and for you to execute the court judgement you must have the certificate of judgment and it has to be through the sheriff of the court but not an individual in court.
“We are sending this note so that all the security agencies of government should be aware that the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, one of the leading affiliate unions of the Nigerian Labour Congress of Nigeria of which I am privileged to be the first deputy president is law-abiding and that was why we decided to go for an appeal of the judgement therefore, any attempt by individuals or group of individuals that attempt or attempted attempt to try to bring crisis into the union, we are not going to fold our arms and look at it.
“Appeal is that our constitutional right guaranteed under the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended so therefore it is not a crime for us to say we are not certified by that ruling.
“In emphasis guaranteed by the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended, we use this opportunity to call on all our organs to remain calm and disregard any publication, any phone call, any virtual meeting, any WhatsApp created to mobilise those members he never had.
“Just after the delivery of the judgement, Innocent Bola Audu had the effort to unilaterally issue a statement and publish an advertorial purportedly terminating the retainers of ALECAL councils and we are sending this to the general public to disregard because he does not have the constitutional right to single-handedly appoint, terminate or discipline our council. Not even appointment of anybody to be a staff of the secretariat. The power lies in the central working committee and the approval of NEC.
“As we speak, he has created what we call acting secretary general association of senior civil servants of Nigeria do not have an acting secretary general, what we have is a secretary general, comrade Joshua Abegbo and we also have two deputy secretary generals, comrade Igbokwe and Comrade Isaac Ejeneke is heading the secretariat in Nigeria.
“The journey for the survival of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria started in 2001.
“You will recall that last year there was a delisting of over 17,000 workers. Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria engaged the government without going on a rampage and our members were reinstated, their withheld salaries from September to December paid in full. That shows you that we are very responsible, we have engaged the government.
“You will recall our emphasis on various reforms including the Orosanya’s report which we have emphasised and made it categorically clear that there shall be no job loss that is what the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria is known for. It’s a leading association in the sense that it is the only union in council one in the sense of public jobs negotiating council therefore we cannot allow individuals or groups. of individuals or persons to try to perpetuate evil or violence.
“Any attempted attempt with emphasis, we will not allow that. This is a Clarion call for the government to take note of the character, of the person with the emphasis that Bola Innocent Audu has not been reinstated
“He can spread the certified true copy of the said judgement but that is not a guarantee that he has taken over,” he stated.
