Labour union suspends strike over promotion arrears

AS the Federal Government commences the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears, and other allowances owed Federal Public Officers, organised labour under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) announced it has suspended the strike action earlier planned to start on Monday 18th but shifted to Wednesday 20th September, 2017 following a parley with the Government after the strike notice was issued.

In a press statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday and made available to the Tribune Online, ASCSN National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, stated that the strike action which would have paralysed all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) had to be put on hold since the Federal Government had started paying the affected officers their outstanding entitlements.

“Some MDAs where affected workers have started to receive payment since Monday include: Energy Commission of Nigeria, Federal Character Commission, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, National Boundary Commission, National Library of Nigeria, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and others.

“As a responsible Trade Union, we have to suspend the strike since payment has started and we commend the Government for kick-starting the process.  We wish to advise the Government to ensure that payment must continue until all Federal Officers being owed receive their full entitlements,” the statement stated.

It warned that if by any act of omission or commission, the payment process was scuttled by the Government, the strike action would begin without further notice.

The ASCSN also enjoined its teeming members in the MDAs to remain calm as the Union was closely monitoring the situation.

It urged well-meaning Nigerians to lend their voices to the plea of the Union that all efforts should be made by the Government to settle all arrears of entitlements owed Federal Officers so that the ugly situation would be put behind us.

“The Government should equally ensure that henceforth, salaries, promotion increment and other allowances should be paid to workers as and when due so that we do not have this experience again in the Federal Public Service,” the union stated.

It will be recalled that the ASCSN has been spear-heading the struggle for payment of debt owed Federal Officers for some years.

The entitlements include outstanding salary, promotion arrears, 1st 28 days allowance on transfer from post, mandatory training allowance of Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) 2010, repatriation allowances, burial expenses, and death benefits.