The leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, led by Comrade Shehu Mohammed, has dismissed a press statement credited to Innocent Bola-Audu, describing it as fabricated and misleading.
In a rejoinder issued on Tuesday by its Media and Publicity Committee, the association said its attention was drawn to the statement credited to Bola-Audu and his so-called Strategic Media Group.
The committee said while it would ordinarily not dignify the statement with a response, it became necessary to set the records straight and protect unsuspecting members of the public and the labour community from being misled.
On the position of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, the Shehu Mohammed-led leadership said the TUC, under Comrade Engr. Festus Osifo and Comrade N.A. Toro, PhD, mni, has in a public circular affirmed Comrade Shehu Mohammed as the only duly recognised and legitimate President of ASCSN.
It said the TUC’s position was based on ASCSN’s status as a bona fide affiliate, its internal democratic processes and the outcome of its Delegates Conference held on August 12, 2024, at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, which was observed by the Registrar of Trade Unions, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Amos Falonipe.
“TUC has 32 affiliates, yes, but it has ONE constitution and speaks with ONE voice through its President General and Secretary General,” the committee stated, adding that Bola-Audu cannot claim to be in TUC and at the same time denigrate its leadership.
On the court judgment cited by Bola-Audu, the leadership said the lower court judgment being brandished is already a subject of appeal at the Court of Appeal.
“It is trite in law that once an appeal is entered and a motion for stay is pending, parties are expected to maintain the status quo ante. The status quo before the lower court misadventure is that Comrade Shehu Mohammed is President,” it said.
The committee added that the lower court refused Bola-Audu’s application for an order to enforce the judgment pending the outcome of the appeal, and challenged him to wait for the Court of Appeal to decide.
It further argued that Bola-Audu’s conduct during the just-suspended industrial action in the Federal Unity Colleges exposed him, noting that the document he paraded as an agreement showed he signed as a ‘Team Lead’ and member of a negotiating team, not as National President.
The statement therefore queried under what authority he was issuing a press release – as an impostor or as Team Lead.
On autonomy and legitimacy, the committee said ASCSN’s autonomy does not mean anarchy or impersonation, stressing that leadership is produced through a Delegates’ Conference.
It challenged Bola-Audu to show evidence of the Delegates’ Conference he allegedly held, including the delegates list, pictures and videos, and which statutory agencies observed it.
The committee said MDA Chairmen, who are the field commanders of the union, have hailed the TUC for standing with the legitimate cause, describing that as the true pulse of the union, not the noise from a rented media group.
It advised MDAs, employers, security agencies and the general public to disregard Bola-Audu’s statement and deal exclusively with the Comrade Shehu Mohammed-led ASCSN.
The committee added that resort to personal attacks on the TUC President, accusing him of collecting check-off dues and failing at Dangote Refinery negotiations, is not only libellous but a clear sign of a drowning man clutching at straws.
“It shows a man who has lost the support of the rank and file and now seeks relevance through blackmail and character assassination. We challenge him to show evidence of his wild allegations or forever remain silent,” it said.
