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By Bimbola Oyesola, [email protected]
Against the backdrop of the recent twist in the leadership crisis rocking the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), the union has warned all members of its Central Working Committee (CWC) from parading as officers after the expiration of their term in July 29, 2024.
Secretary-general of the ASCSN, Joshua Apebo, said no member of the outgoing leadership has the power to elongate or extend tenure after the legitimate expiration of the term.
Recall that on 9th July, 2024, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, while delivering judgment in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/214/2022, held that Innocent Bola-Audu, the former president of the union, should complete his tenure by 29th July, having been elected as the national president of the union on 29th July, 2020.
Following this development, the union also filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/780/2024.
However, Apebo, in an interview, said, since, constitutionally, the CWC’s tenure has expired, “No member of the expired CWC has the right to be impugning the integrity of their colleagues, because the association is not the vineyard of any person, no matter the position they held.”
Elated by the meritorious service rendered to the union by members of the CWC whose tenure expired on Monday, 29th July, 2024, Apebo commended the national officers for their invaluable contributions that made the association to wax stronger.
He noted that, since they were elected into office on 29th July, 2020, during the 4th Quedrennial National Delegates Conference of the union, which took place at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, Abuja, the national officers have upheld and maintained the lofty ideals of the founding fathers of the association.
“The Central Working Committee of the Association was elected into office on the 29th July, 2020, for a constitutional period of four years. Its tenure, therefore, ended on Monday, the 29th July, 2024, in line with Rule 15(iv) of the constitution of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria.
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“It is necessary to add that the tenure of the CWC has not been extended or elongated as the CWC has no power under the Union’s Constitution to extend its own tenure,” he emphasized.
According to the Apebo, the expiration of tenure of the CWC has been communicated to the Registrar of Trade Unions, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Civil Service Commission, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, National Security Adviser, Director-General, State Security Service, Inspector-General of Police and other Security Agencies.
“In view of the foregoing, it is important to state that any member of CWC whose tenure expired on 29th July, 2024 who continues to parade himself as National President of the Association is engaging in lawlessness, impunity, and gangsterism which are alien to the ideals of the Association in particular and the Trade Unions in general,” he said.
The ASCSN scribe called on the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) throughout the country as well as the Security Agencies to desist from dealing with any member of the CWC whose tenure has expired on Monday 29th July, 2024 because doing so might be construed as lending legitimacy to illegality.
The union earlier has alleged that the former president after the judgement has invaded the ASCSN office in Abuja on 24th July, 2024.
In a press statement issued in Lagos, the ASCSN Secretary-General stated that a detachment of Police in Abuja was taking steps to clear the office of hoodlums.
“Now, instead of following due legal process and allow judgment to be delivered in the case at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, Bola-Audu has again elected to engage thugs to invade the Annex Offices of the Union in Abuja.
“This is unacceptable because Nigeria is not a jungle but a society governed by law,” the union has said.
The ASCSN accordingly urged the security agencies to rein in Bola-Audu and his thugs and ensure that he desist forthwith from resorting to self-help and taking the Laws into his hands.
