The South/South Forum of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, (ASCSN) has commended the Nigeria Police Force for unsealing its Lagos secretariat following an alleged invasion by factional members of the association.
South-South chairman of the body, Martin Bolum, however condemned the action of the factional members for pushing the union “to the brink of an incendiary conflict and trumping up sponsored agitation against well constituted leadership.”
Recall that the national secretariat located in Lagos was sealed off after thugs with charms and dangerous weapons invaded its premises.
Speaking in a press conference in Asaba, yesterday, the South/South Forum of the ASCSN, Mr Martin Bolum, reiterated the need for discipline among members, adding that “discipline is a cornerstone of civil service tradition”.
He chided factional members for pushing the union “to the brink of an incendiary conflict and trumping up sponsored agitation against well constituted leadership.”
Bolum praised the police for safeguarding the lives of workers and properties.
He said, “On behalf of the South South Forum of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), I wish to give our deepest gratitude for the hard work of the Nigeria Police in safeguarding the Association National Secretariat Lagos that was invaded by unscrupulous element posing to be aggrieved factional members of the Association.
“The police has shown to the world the highest professionalism and the greatest perseverance over this cumbersome struggle rarely happens in Nigerian labour. We are proud of the police authorities.
“We understand the importance of people’s access to the ASCSN secretariats, so we are working closely with the Police and our oversight committees to ensure security of lives and properties of all members of the Association irrespective of different interests. All we are saying is no to hooliganism, gangsterism and unwanted invasion and destruction of the Association properties. As Senior Civil Servants we are custodian of civil Service and must live by example.
“We say no politics of invasion. There is need for unflinching honesty about the Association’s leadership struggles to consolidate a broad and durable labour union, even after four years of previous leadership’s chaotic, divisive and lawless administration.
“The National Leadership of ASCSN under Dr. Tommy Etim Okon, is both a trenchant critique of abuse of public funds and office with a constructive blueprint for the course corrections the Association urgently needs to make.
“Within a year of his initial stint as National President of ASCSN, Dr Okon has earned a reputation as a hard-charging leader.
“The Association discipline is very elastic on it members. We don’t behave like loose cannons, derailing from Civil Service roles; pushing the Association to the brink of an incendiary conflict and trumping up sponsored agitation against well constitutional constituted leadership.
“In our determination to preserve ASCSN, We want to reiterate that our avowed confidence on Dr. Tommy Etim Okon leadership of ASCSN remains ironclad.”
