The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has re-elected Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu as the National President of the Association.
Bola-Audu who emerged for a second tenure and other officers were elected at the emergency National Delegates Conference (NDC) of ASCSN held at the weekend.
A communique signed by Innocent Bola-Audu (President) and Gamaliel Acho (Vice President), and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, stated that the NDC-in-session reviewed and hailed the July 9, 2024, judgment of the National Industrial Court delivered by Justice O. O. Oyewunmi, in suit no. NIC/ABJ/214/2022 between Innocent Bola-Audu vs. Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) & 2 Ors.
The court had affirmed and reinstated Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu as the authentic National President of the Association.
The NDC-in-session hailed the elections as free and fair and enjoyed healthy participation of delegates drawn from the thirty-six states of the federation and the FCT.
In addition, the NDC-in session roundly condemned attempts by some former and present members and staff of the Association and their cohorts to fragment, rubbish and destroy the Association and also stop the ongoing police investigations into the colossal financial fraud and other crimes they committed against the Association.
According to the communique, the NDC-in-session applauded the efforts of the Nigeria Police under the able leadership of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in ensuring thorough investigation and due prosecution of all persons indicted for looting the resources of the Association, and pledged full support to the law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice is done.
It further called on the Inspector General of Police to intervene and direct the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to unseal and open the Abuja annex of the National Secretariat to Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu the court-affirmed National President of the Association.
The NDC noted that the illegal action of Commissioner of Police Benneth Igwe in unlawfully and violently sealing the annex several weeks ago is in gross violation of the law (especially the Police Act) and very contemptuous of the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, and is hindering smooth operation and management of the affairs of the Association.
Furthermore, the NDC confirmed the appointment of Comrade Gamaliel Chinyere Acho as the new Secretary General of the Association, which appointment was earlier made by the Central Working Committee (CWC) and ratified by the National Executive Council (NEC).
The communique commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Labour and Employment for the timely resolution of the new national minimum wage issue, noting that N70,000 (Seventy Thousand Naira) is good benchmark for the least paid worker in Nigeria in view of the high cost of living in the country and the realities surrounding the Nigerian economy.
The delegates also enjoined the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to direct that consequential adjustments be immediately effected on the new minimum wage, and that payment of the new wages should commence no later than September 2024.
The communique also urged the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council to promptly engage with the National Incomes, Salaries and Wages Commission and the Office of the head of Civil Service of the Federation to put machinery in motion for the consequential adjustments.
Also elected were other officers of the Central Working Committee namely: Comrades Hassan Abba – Vice President; Tari Dounana -Vice President; Andrew Magaji -Vice President; Odunayo Adesoye – Vice President; and Rahab Maigari- National Treasurer; Nkiru Aneke – Internal Auditor; Jonathan Aligbe -National Trustee; Gold Dybo – National Ex-Offico; Isaac Lingmu -National Ex-Offico; Christopher Lengbedion -National Ex-Offico; Adebayo Oluwa -National Ex-Offico and Orisamuyiwa Abidakun -National Ex-Offico.