ASCSN Suspends Strike As Payment Of Members’ Entitlements Begin
Organised Labour under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has suspended the strike action that started on Monday, saying that the strike will commence tomorrow, 20th September, 2017 if the Federal Government scuttles ongoing payment of entitlements due to its members.
In a Press Statement issued in Lagos by ASCSN National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, stated that the strike action, which would have paralysed all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) had to be put on hold since the Federal Government has started paying the affected officers their outstanding entitlements.
“Some MDAs where affected workers have started to receive payment since Monday include: Energy Commission of Nigeria, Federal Character Commission, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, National Boundary Commission, National Library of Nigeria, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation etc.
“As a responsible Trade Union, we have to suspend the strike since payment has started and we commend the Government for kick-starting the process. We wish to advise the Government to ensure that payments continue until all Federal Officers being owed receive their full entitlements,” the Union emphasized.
It warned that if, by any act of omission or commission, the payment process was scuttled by the government, the strike action would begin without further notice.
The ASCSN also enjoined its teeming members in the MDAs to remain calm as the Union was closely monitoring the situation.
It urged well-meaning Nigerians to lend their voices to the plea of the union that all efforts should be made by the government to settle all arrears of entitlements owed Federal Officers so that the ugly situation would be put behind us.
“The Government should equally ensure that henceforth, salaries, promotion increment and other allowances be paid to workers as and when due so that we do not have this experience again in the Federal Public Service,” the Union stated.
It will be recalled that the ASCSN has been spear-heading the struggle for payment of debt owed Federal Officers for some years.
