By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), led by Shehu Mohammed, has initiated steps to settle the benefits of its former President, Innocent Bola-Audu.

This move aligns with the efforts of Mohammed’s leadership to ensure that all former leaders of the association are accorded due recognition and entitlements. It also follows a ruling by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), which directed that Bola-Audu should be compensated up until July 2024, the official end of his tenure, having been elected president on July 29, 2020.

Confirming the planned compensation, ASCSN Secretary-General, Comrade Joshua Apebo, emphasized that Shehu Mohammed remains the only recognized President of ASCSN in accordance with its constitution and labour laws.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Apebo recalled that Shehu Mohammed was elected as ASCSN President on August 12, 2024, alongside other members of the Central Working Committee (CWC) during the 5th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

He explained that this election followed the expiration of the tenure of the former CWC members on July 29, 2024, as they had been elected on July 29, 2020, during the 4th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference at NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

The association recalled that on July 9, 2024, the NICN, while delivering judgment in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/214/2022, ruled that Bola-Audu should be reinstated to complete his tenure by July 29, 2024, and awarded him ₦3 million in legal expenses.

Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju O. ruled: “The claimant (Innocent Bola-Audu) is to be reinstated to his position as National President of the 1st defendant with effect from April 2023 and accorded all the benefits and incidents of office from then until he lawfully completes his tenure on July 29, 2024. The claimant is entitled to a cost of ₦3,000,000 (three million naira) only against the defendants jointly.”

In response to the court ruling, ASCSN stated: “In consideration of this judgment, the National Leadership of the Association has decided, as part of an out-of-court settlement, to revisit the issue of compensation to Bola-Audu in line with the National Industrial Court judgment.

We want to assure our members that as a law-abiding trade union, we remain committed to operating within the ambits of the Constitution of the Union and the Labour Laws of the country. We, therefore, urge our members to reaffirm their confidence in the leadership of National President Comrade Shehu Mohammed, Secretary-General Comrade Joshua Apebo, and other members of the Central Working Committee. Any contrary information from detractors should be disregarded.”