Members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) have officially affirmed Comrade Shehu Mohammed as its National President, dismissing conflicting claims regarding the union’s leadership.
Led by the Secretary-General of the union, Comrade Joshua Apebo, ASCSN members, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, reiterated that Mohammed was duly elected on 12 August 2024, during the union’s 5th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference.
According to him, the election that enthroned Mohammed took place at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, following the expiration of the tenure of the previous Central Working Committee (CWC) members on 29 July 2024.
“The conference was well attended by key stakeholders, including the Registrar of Trade Unions, who represented the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, as well as the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC),” the statement added.
ASCSN further clarified that its decision to affirm Mohammed’s leadership was guided by the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on 9 July 2024, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/214/2022. The court had declared that Innocent Bola-Audu’s tenure as National President would officially end on 29 July 2024, and also awarded him compensation of ₦3 million for legal expenses. This ruling, the union stated, was in line with its constitution and electoral processes.
Furthermore, the Civil Servants’ union emphasised that its new leadership under Comrade Mohammed had been authenticated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as well as the TUC, reinforcing its legitimacy. In light of this, the union revealed that it had chosen to withdraw its pending cases from both the NICN and the Appeal Court, deeming further legal battles unnecessary.
The statement went on to make it unequivocally clear that this withdrawal should not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of Bola-Audu’s claim to the presidency. Instead, it reaffirmed that the union now fully stands behind Comrade Shehu Mohammed and the newly elected Central Working Committee members. Any attempts to mislead union members, the ASCSN warned, should be disregarded.
The union called on its members to unite behind the new leadership, urging them to ignore any form of misinformation aimed at causing division. It reassured them that under Mohammed’s leadership, ASCSN would continue to uphold its mandate of advocating for the rights and welfare of senior civil servants across the country.
The ASCSN also took a swipe at what it described as “detractors” who were attempting to stir confusion and destabilise the union. It reiterated that the election process was transparent, democratic, and in full compliance with the union’s constitution and relevant labour laws.
Comrade Joshua Apebo noted in the statement that the union’s focus going forward would be on strengthening collective bargaining efforts, addressing members’ welfare concerns, and enhancing its engagement with the government and other stakeholders. He assured that the new leadership was ready to implement progressive policies that would benefit all members.
The union lastly said that it expects its position on the issue to put an end to speculations regarding the leadership of ASCSN. “Comrade Shehu Mohammed is steering ASCSN toward a new chapter of unity and progress, as the union works towards achieving greater benefits for Nigeria’s senior civil servants,” the statement declared.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then