By Danjuma Amodu | April 24, 2026
The National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu, Ph.D, FCNA, FCIT, has called on aggrieved and erring members of the union to embrace reconciliation and return to the path of unity, discipline, and lawful conduct.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Bola-Audu declared that “the Noah’s Ark is still open” — a symbolic appeal for genuine repentance and restoration for members who have strayed from the union’s ideals and constitutional framework.
“This is not a time for division, but for healing. Just as the Ark provided refuge and preservation, the doors of ASCSN remain open for those who are ready to return with sincerity of heart and respect for due process,” he stated.
He stressed that while the leadership would not condone acts of insubordination or illegality, it remained open to receiving back members willing to retrace their steps and align with the union’s core values of integrity, transparency, and collective progress.
Bola-Audu reiterated that ongoing efforts to reposition the union were aimed at strengthening its institutional integrity and building a more unified, progressive, and formidable ASCSN.
He urged all members to remain steadfast, law-abiding, and committed to the collective mandate, assuring them that the leadership remained focused on protecting the interests and welfare of all genuine members.
The statement concluded with a renewed appeal to those he described as “prodigal sons” to seize the opportunity for reconciliation while the window remained open.
“There is still room for restoration, but it must be rooted in truth, accountability, and respect for the rule of law,” he affirmed.
The call comes against the backdrop of a protracted leadership crisis that has unsettled the ASCSN in recent years. The dispute, which involved allegations of financial impropriety and constitutional breaches, triggered multiple court cases, suspensions, and the emergence of rival factions laying claim to the union’s leadership.
Comrade Bola-Audu emerged as National President following a series of court rulings that upheld the legitimacy of the National Executive Council under which he was elected. Since assuming office, he has prioritised reconciliation and institutional reforms to restore stability to the association.
Mohammed Faction Appeals April 15 Judgement, Disputes Bola-Audu’s Powers
Despite the call for reconciliation, the crisis within the ASCSN remains unresolved. The rival faction has filed a notice of appeal against the April 15, 2026 judgment in favour of Bola-Audu, along with a motion for stay of execution. The faction insists it is exercising its constitutional right to challenge the ruling.
In a statement, the leadership aligned to the Mohammed faction maintained that Bola-Audu lacks constitutional authority to dissolve or suspend members of the Central Working Committee elected at the association’s 5th Quadrennial National Delegates’ Conference held in August 2024 in Lagos. It also insists he has no power to remove the Secretary-General or any secretariat staff.
The faction referenced a 2024 judgment of the National Industrial Court which ordered that Bola-Audu complete his tenure and awarded him compensation of three million naira, alleging that efforts to enforce the judgment were resisted. It described recent actions attributed to Bola-Audu as unconstitutional and expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the April 15 judgment. The group appealed to members not to be distracted by the ongoing legal tussle and reaffirmed that the association remains a democratic body governed by its constitution and not subject to unilateral control.
ASCSN, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), is one of the largest labour unions in the public service, representing senior staff across federal and state ministries, departments, and agencies.
