Dek: The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria says its National President and Secretary-General remain in office as a pending appeal halts enforcement of a lower court judgment.
By Danjuma AMODU
The leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, will remain unchanged while an appeal is pending before the Court of Appeal, the union has said.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Committee, ASCSN affirmed that Comrade Shehu Muhammed is still National President and Comrade Joshua Apebo is still Secretary-General.
“Comrade Shehu Muhammed and Comrade Joshua Apebo have been leading the Association at all times… and they shall continue to be leading until their appeal is determined by the Court of Appeal.”
— ASCSN Media and Publicity Committee
The union said the position follows the National Industrial Court judgment in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/169/2025 delivered on April 15, 2026. While the judgment stands, ASCSN noted that it cannot be enforced because Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/573/2026 has been entered at the Court of Appeal.
On May 20, 2026, the National Industrial Court, in Ruling NICN/ABJ/133M/2026, refused an ex-parte motion filed by Mr. Innocent Bola-Audu seeking a Writ of Execution. The court struck out the motion on the ground that an appeal was already pending.
“Thus, Innocent Bola-Audu cannot enforce the judgment or take the benefit of the judgment until the Court of Appeal determines otherwise,” the statement said.
ASCSN also cited its recent intervention on the Federal Government’s plan to privatise Unity Colleges, with King’s College listed first. The union described the move as part of its constitutional duty to protect members’ jobs and safeguard national assets.
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
The association said Mr. Bola-Audu and Mr. Gamaliel Achor are facing criminal prosecution by the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Nigeria Police for alleged impersonation of ASCSN’s National President and Secretary-General.
The matter is before an FCT High Court in Jabi, with the next hearing scheduled for Monday, July 20, 2026. ASCSN urged members to attend to observe proceedings.
The union thanked members for their patience “in this especially challenging period” and expressed confidence that the dispute would soon be resolved.
ASCSN is one of Nigeria’s largest public sector unions, representing senior civil servants across federal ministries, departments, agencies, and Unity Colleges. Leadership tussles in labour unions often trigger parallel claims to office, but enforceability typically depends on the status of appeals.
Under Nigerian labour and civil procedure, a judgment is valid once delivered, but an appeal with a proper record of proceedings can suspend enforcement until a higher court rules. That principle is what ASCSN is relying on to maintain the current leadership.
The union has also positioned itself at the centre of policy debates affecting civil servants. Its recent press statement opposing the planned privatisation of Unity Colleges reflects its broader mandate to defend employment security and public education assets.
