NIMC loses six staff due to poor welfare —ASCSN alleges

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria  (ASCSN) has alleged that six of its members working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) died within a very short period due to the poor staff welfare and treatment of staff of the commission.

To this end, the union has written the management of the commission and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), giving a two-week ultimatum, which elapsed on Thursday, this week.

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In a letter titled “Perceived refusal to address poor staff welfare in the commission,” the ASCSN, said it “noticed with dismay the continuous death of staff members over manageable ailments but poor welfare will not encourage them to seek medical attention in good time.”

“Regrettably, we have recently lost six staff members to illnesses that were curable if NIMC Management had taken staff welfare serious,” the letter read.

Signed by the Chairman, ASCSN NIMC Unit, Comrade Lucky Adekokhai and its Secretary, Comrade Odia Victor; the letter named the six late staff as Ogbogu Steve from the head office; Rufus Ajoyemi Oluwole from Ondo State office; Ekenze Udeorji from Anambra State office; Adamu Solami from Kano State office; Joshua Eton Jema from Adamawa State; and Mamuda Aliyu a driver from Sokoto State.

The union said it has become glaring that the management of NIMC has relegated the issues of staff welfare especially in the area of dwindling staff salaries, nonpayment of allowances and the non-implementation of the Paramilitary Salary Scale to the background.

The letter read “On behalf of the staff of NIMC, we would like to know the true position of things with respect to: Implementation of Paramilitary Salary Scale, payment of the allowances that was removed upon joining IPPIS, payment of the first 28days being owed staff that had been recruited since 2013 and payment of hazard allowances.”

The workers also said they wanted to know the management latest plan towards addressing sundry issues raised by the union, particularly in the above listed areas.

The union regretted that their executive have towed the path of peaceful negotiation since they assumed office, but added that after several meetings, their efforts have not yielded fruits.

Giving the last warning, the union said “Having resolved to seek a way forward rather than continue to suffer in the midst of plenty, the union hereby request the Director-General and his Management team to address all the contending issues as enumerated above; especially the staff welfare within two weeks.”

“Note that if by the end of June, nothing significant is done, the union will have no option but to employ other available tools within its power to ensure that the above listed issues get the needed attention.”