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  • ASCSN decries abduction of ministry directors

    ASCSN decries abduction of ministry directors

    Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), has expressed it dismay over the abduction of six senior directors from the Federal Ministry of Defence who were kidnapped on Monday along the Kabba–Lokoja Road in Kogi State while travelling to Abuja for their promotion examinations.

    The Association labelled the abduction “a national embarrassment” and “a grave assault on the nation’s civil service.”

    According to reports, the victims, all women, were en route from Lagos to the Federal Capital Territory when their convoy was ambushed by gunmen who whisked them into a nearby forest.

    In a joint statement by ASCSN President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, the union said it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the incident and was working closely with relevant authorities to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted officers.

    The statement identified the kidnapped directors as Mrs. Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs. C.A. Emeribe, Mrs. Helen C. Ezeakor, Mrs. C.A. Ladoye, Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike, and Mrs. Catherine O. Essien, all of whom are attached to the Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos.

    “These are hardworking public servants who have given years of loyal service to our nation,” the statement read. “Their abduction is heartbreaking and unacceptable. We stand firmly with their families and colleagues at this difficult time.”

    The union commended the Ministry of Defence for its “swift and proactive” response, confirming that the ministry had deployed internal security operatives and was collaborating with other agencies to ensure the prompt rescue of the victims.

    “We are hopeful that with coordinated efforts, our colleagues will be rescued soon and safely returned to their loved ones,” said Mohammed.

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    However, the union took the opportunity to renew its long-standing appeal to the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to decentralize promotion examinations across the country, warning that the continued practice of requiring civil servants to travel long distances to Abuja poses grave risks amid worsening insecurity.

    “For years, we have urged the government to decentralize these exams.

    “The dangers of travelling across volatile routes have been glaring, and this unfortunate incident only reinforces the urgency of that demand,” he said.

    The ASCSN urged the FCSC to establish state-based examination centres for all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), insisting that decentralization would help reduce exposure to danger and prevent further tragedies.

    The union also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and to pray for the safe release of the victims.

    “Our hearts go out to the families of our colleagues. We urge the authorities to act swiftly, every minute counts.”

    The abduction underscores renewed fears over rising incidents of highway kidnappings in central Nigeria, particularly along routes linking Kogi, Ondo, and Abuja, despite ongoing security operations in the region

  • ASCSN members picket solidarity house, demand transparent election

    ASCSN members picket solidarity house, demand transparent election

    Over 150 members of the Lagos State Council of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) for the second time in less than a month stormed the state secretariat popularly known as “solidarity house”, locking it up over alleged imposition.

    In the past few months, Lagos ASCSN chapter has been engulfed in crisis since its emergency delegates’ conference where members unanimously resolved to remove the state secretary. 

    But the national leadership’s letter nullifying the conference has now escalated the situation, with the state chapter insisting it will resist what it called “undemocratic interference.”

    The aggrieved members, who converged as early as 8:00am, carried placards with inscriptions such as “No to imposition,” “Our constitution must be respected,” and “We stand for democracy,” chanting solidarity songs and vowing not to back down until justice is served.

    Addressing the gathering on behalf of the aggrieved members, Comrade Rotimi accused the embattled secretary of contesting an election he was not qualified for and declaring himself winner.

    “The actions of the state secretary, including contesting an election he wasn’t qualified for and declaring himself winner, are unacceptable,” Rotimi declared.

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    “The forceful reopening of our secretariat based on a biased letter from the National Secretary General is a clear disregard for our rules and procedures enshrined in Rule 19 of our constitution. By locking up the secretariat again, we are protecting our Association’s integrity, upholding democratic principles, and demanding a fair and transparent process.”

    The aggrieved members, in their charter of demands, called for the immediate intervention of relevant authorities, a thorough investigation into the alleged misconduct, and a new, transparent election in line with the agreement reached with the leadership of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, at the aborted September 17, 2025 election.

    According to them, the alleged imposition of the state secretary undermines the union’s democratic values and threatens industrial harmony in the state civil service.

    “We will not be intimidated or silenced. We stand united in defense of our Association,” Rotimi added to the cheers of the crowd.

    Security operatives have been stationed around the premises to prevent any breakdown of law and order, with members vowing to maintain their lock-up action until their demands are met.

  • ASCSN warns ‘officers’ against tenure elongation

    ASCSN warns ‘officers’ against tenure elongation

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), has warned members of its Central Working Committee (CWC) about parading themselves as officers after the expiration of their tenure on July 29.

    Secretary-General of the ASCSN, Joshua Apebo, said no member of the outgoing leadership had the power to elongate or extend a tenure after the legitimate expiration of the term.

    On July 9, 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 July 29, having been elected as the national president of the union on July 29, 2020.

    Following this development, the union also filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/780/2024.

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    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 July 29, Apebo commended the national officers for their contributions that made the association to wax stronger.

    He noted that since they were elected into office on July 29, 2020, during the fourth Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the union at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, Abuja, the national officers had 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 July 29, 2020, for a constitutional period of four years. Its tenure, therefore, ended on July 29, 2024, in line with Rule 15(iv) of the constitution of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria.

    “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 emphasised.

    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, Department of State Security, 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 July 29, 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) as well as the security agencies to desist from dealing with any member of the CWC whose tenure has expired because doing so might be construed as lending legitimacy to illegality.

    The union earlier has alleged that the former president after the judgment has invaded the ASCSN office in Abuja on July 24.

    In a 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 allowing 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.  

  • ASCSN President vows to remain in office

    ASCSN President vows to remain in office

    The National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu, has reassured members and supporters he remains in charge, affirming that July 29, 2024 does not mark the end of his tenure in office but beginning of election of new leaders. 

    In a statement  by his Strategic Media Group in Abuja, Bola-Audu referenced Rule 8 of the Association’s Constitution, which empowers him to preside as well as lead the members of ASCSN to the National Delegate Conference, the highest decision-making body of the Association in the conduct of the election.

    He emphasised his constitutional duty to preside over meetings of the Central Working Committee, National Executive Council (NEC) and National Delegate Conference, as mandated by the Association’s Constitution and a subsisting judgement from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Remain calm, law-abiding, ASCSN urges members

    Bola-Audu urged members to remain steadfast and resist any action that contravene the Constitution and Court judgement, warning that such actions would only exacerbate the existing tensions within the Union. He expressed gratitude for the members’ support and encouraged them to remain calm, dismissing insinuations from certain quarters that his leadership would be undermined after July 29.

    He declared: “God is involved in this struggle, and we have no doubt that light will triumph over darkness.”

  • Remain calm, law-abiding, ASCSN urges members

    Remain calm, law-abiding, ASCSN urges members

    The national leadership of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has called on its members to remain calm and law-abiding as arrangement has been concluded to appeal the judgment of the National Industrial Court (NIC) on the crisis in the union.

    In a statement, the association’s Secretary-General, Comrade Joshua Apebo, emphasised that the union would ensure that justice was done on the matter.

    It would be recalled that on February 22, 2021, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) arrested and detained Bola-Audu Innocent for alleged human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable persons.

    The union resolved that given the enormity of the case and to save the image of the association and protect his job that Bola-Audu should step aside so that informal channels could be explored by the national leadership of the association with the authorities to give him a soft landing.

    Instead of abiding by this wise counsel, Bola-Audu allegedly invaded the headquarters of the association in Lagos, the annex office in Abuja and also sued the association.

    He also wrote letters to the banks of the union to put on hold its accounts.

    Against this background, the association expelled Bola-Audu.

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    It is also necessary to state that the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation also barred him from entering the Treasury House, Abuja while the Federal Civil Service Commission equally suspended him from service but he later smuggled himself back to the Civil Service, the statement added.

    It will be recalled that Bola-Audu had sued the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association for illegally removing him.

    Although he admitted being arrested by the NAPTIP on allegations of trafficking in person and exploitation of the vulnerable, he told the court that the ASCSN acted and also based his removal on “mere allegation”.

    In his motion dated March 12, 2021, the Applicant sought an order of injunction, restraining the respondents from holding the NEC meeting meant to rectify his suspension, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

  • King’s college ASCSN begins strike

    Members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) will today commence a five-day warning strike.

    The strike followed a notice of strike on March 20 to the Principal of Kings College. The union, in a notice pasted in the school, said it is surprised that the Ministry of Education failed to pay February salaries to its members as demanded.

    “In view of the above, the National Secretariat of the union hereby directs all members of the association to embark on a five-day warning strike with effect from March 27,” the statement said.

  • ASCSN to govt: Protect pension funds

    ASCSN to govt: Protect pension funds

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has urged the Federal Government to offer ‘adequate protection’ to the N5.3 trillion workers contributory pension funds.

    Its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama said the fund is  workers’ money meant to offset their terminal benefits when they retire.

    He said: “We are worried and disturbed that government functionaries are now making persistent efforts to lay their hands on the contributory pension funds in the name of funding infrastructure.

    “We say capital ‘NO’ to this retrogressive move. Our officials need to understand that the pension funds are not idle funds, but are funds invested mainly in safe instruments like money and bonds markets. We make bold to say that our country is not yet ripe for utilising pension funds for building infrastructure.

    “Our federal, states and local governments are corrupt and incompetent in recovering public funds. We, therefore, strongly advise government to look elsewhere to raise funds for their projects. Contributory pension fund is a no go area and workers and their unions are more than prepared to fight with everything they have to resist pressures to touch and toy with workers future.”

    He called for stiffer sanctions for those who looted pension funds, saying that this would act as deterrent to others.

    He appealed to the federal and state governments to ensure that pensioners were paid their gratuities and monthly stipends promptly.

  • ASCSN trains Queen’s College teachers

    The Association of Senior Civil Service of Nigeria (ASCSN) has boosted the Federal Government’s quest to bridge the digital divide by organising an Information Communication Technology (ICT) seminar for members of staff of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos.

    The seminar held last week at the Theresa Chukwuma Assembly Hall.

    The teachers, as well as some non-teaching members of staff attached to the library and accounts departments of the school were exposed to lectures about how to use ICT to make lesson notes, prepare bills and balance the accounts.

    The training, facilitated by CISCO Unites and the ASCSN Unit of the college, had as theme: “Enhancing Productivity through ICT.”

    Principal of the 89-year-old college, Dr Lami Amodu, praised the ASCSN Queen’s College Unit for taking the initiative to boost ICT competency of workers at a time when the management is working to improve academic performance.  She was optimistic that the training would enhance the skills of the workers in carrying out their duties.

    “It is, indeed, thoughtful of Comrade Oladejo-led executive to have deemed it fit to organise this type of training, the first of its kind by the Union. It is a clear indication that the Union and the College Management are on the same page in an IT compliant workforce.  As I have stated at a different fora, the number one cardinal agenda of my administration is the rejuvenation of Queen’s College academic standard. One of the ways to achieve this is the training and re-training of staff especially in the area of Information Technology not just for the teachers but also for the staff of other departments of the College,” she said.

    Dr Amodu urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and use the skills gained to improve themselves.

    Chairman, ASCSN Lagos Unit, Mr Sarafadeen Oladejo, said the training would help many of its members overcome the phobia of ICT.

    “We embarked on this initiative to compliment the effort of the college management and the Federal Ministry of Education in creating an IT-compliant workforce.  They will be exposed to e-learning, how to use PowerPoint to form lesson note; use IT in the classroom.  We want them to overcome the fear of using IT to teach.  We also want to remind our members of the existence of the union and welcome new employees,” he said.

    Technical Manager, CISCO Unites, Mr Akinwande Olanrewaju, said the training was necessary, considering the shift to digital learning worldwide.  As the school already had laptops and projectors in each classroom, he said the teachers also have to be able to use them to enhance the teaching and learning process.

    “These teachers are used to writing on the board but now they need to do research, how they can get materials online.  Most of them don’t know how to surf the web.  We will teach them.  We have left the era of rote learning.  Pictures help students to remember.  We have e-learning tutorials for the teachers to download on their laptops. We have been partnering with the school for a long time,” he said.

    Apart from e-teaching, CISCO exposed the administrative workers to training on e-registration and e-payment.

    Also present at the training were representatives of ASCSN leaders from the zonal and national levels, including Mr Tony Marshal, who represented Mr Alade Bashir, ASCSN Secretary-General; and Mrs Stella Olagunju, former ASCSN Chairman, Queen’s College.

     

  • ASCSN trains 1,400, calls for creation of more jobs

    ASCSN trains 1,400, calls for creation of more jobs

    About 1,400 members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) have benefited from local and international trainings on union operations and activities.

    According to ASCSN, the training was put together by the Executive of the association led by its President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, as part measures to equip members intellectually.

    Speaking during the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Kaigama said: “I will like to announce to you that over 1, 400 members of our union have been sponsored for local and international training since I came on board.

    “This is in fulfilment of the core mandate of the current leadership of our great union to train and retrain our members. I believe very strongly that the training programmes have had very positive impact on productivity and the way and manner beneficiaries carry out their assignments in their respective workplaces.”

    Kaigama assured that the administration is committed to further training and retraining of members to actualise their collective goals and aspirations. He said the programme has become part of ASCSN and the union will not abandon it. “With your unflinching support, we shall continue to make meaningful impact as far as the education and training of our members is concerned,” he said.

    While assuring that ASCSN leadership will continue to keep the banner of the association afloat and also do its utmost best to maximise the collective wisdom of members in moving the union to the next level, Kaigama reminded members that what the leadership need from them is absolute loyalty and support.

    This, he said, was necessary “so that together we can sustain the integrity, transparency, and progressive credentials that have made this association first among equals in the comity of trade unions in the country”.

    On other welfare issues, Kaigama urged the government to consider the upward review of salaries, saying the current economic realities are at variance with the present wages being paid workers in the country.

    According to him, there is need for government to negotiate with the various labour bodies with a view to creating a new salary regime in the country.

    This, he said, will bring about improvement in the quality of lives of workers, while bridging the salary gap between the core civil service and other sub sectors of the federal public service.

  • TUC, ASCSN propose N52,000 minimum wage

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) have announced plans to engage government in dialogue towards increasing the minimum wage to N52,000.

    The unions also warned of dire consequences, which may include the shutting down of state governments, if the governors carry out their threat to reduce the N18,000 minimum wage or retrench workers.

    Speaking with The Nation, TUC President Comrade Bobboi Kaigama said the Congress had concluded plans to engage the government in dialogue towards increasing the minimum wage to N52,000.

    Kaigama described as laughable the claim by some governors that N18,000 minimum wage was imposed on them when oil sold for $126 as against the present price of $41 per barrel and that they cannot pay.

    He said the governors’ comments may have been occasioned by the unbridled corruption and mismanagement of public funds by the governors themselves. He reiterated that the minimum wage was a product of tripartite meetings involving government at all levels, employers (through Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and organised labour.

    “They (state governments) cannot use our collective wealth on their electioneering campaigns, payment of their children’s school fees abroad, foreign medical tourism, etc. only to come tell us they cannot pay salaries because the price of oil has dropped. They are not serious,” Kaigama said.

    He said TUC’s position was that the searchlight beamed on the arms deal scam should be extended to board members of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), who served for only five years and have set aside N2.7 billion for themselves, whereas they offered nothing but a privatisation that has produced nothing but darkness.

    “Nigeria has enough money to maintain its roads; we do not need toll gates that will only end up making the so-called big boys richer at the expense of everyone else,” Kaigama said.

    In a statement on Monday, this week, ASCSN Secretary-General Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal expressed sadness that Nigerian governors who have not deemed it fit to reduce their humongous salaries and allowances were bent on jettisoning the N18,000 monthly minimum wage so that they could begin to pay as low as N5,000 monthly to civil servants.

    The union regretted that: “Given the current high cost of living, the N18,000 monthly minimum wage cannot even last the average worker one week yet, the governors are bent on reducing it This is very unfortunate because these governors allocate to themselves, on the average, N1 billion monthly as security vote and spend nothing less than N18,000 daily to feed one of their animal pets or buy recharge cards for one of their children, or, worse still, for one of their numerous girl friends.”

    The ASCSN pointed out that there is no state that does not have natural resources, but instead of harnessing them they (governors) prefer to wait for monthly handouts and now bailouts from Abuja to administer their states.

    It stressed that if the state governments could reduce wastages, tackle corruption and moderate their greed, there would be more than enough money to pay enhanced minimum wage and carry out meaningful development in their states.

    ASCSN advised the governors, who are tired of governance because of the fall in revenue allocation and downward slide in the price of oil in the international market, to resign immediately and allow more serious-minded individuals, who are prepared to harness resources of the states for the benefit of the people, including workers, to take up the mantle of leadership.