The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has directed its members in Federal Unity Colleges to continue the ongoing industrial action over the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency virtual meeting of ASCSN zonal coordinators in the Federal Unity Colleges and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, September 19.
The meeting was convened to review the outcome of the September 17 engagement between the union and the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
The zonal coordinators said they carefully examined the issues discussed during the meeting and the developments that followed.
According to them, the ASCSN coordinators consequently resolved that the ongoing strike should continue until the union’s concerns over the proposed concession were addressed.
The communiqué was signed by the coordinators of the six geopolitical zones and the Lagos Zonal Coordinator.
The coordinators declared: “No reversal of King’s College Lagos concessioning, no resumption. The ongoing strike continues.”
They said the industrial action had recorded “overwhelming and near-total compliance” across the country.
According to them, the strike was in response to what they described as an attempt by the Federal Ministry of Education to undermine due process.
They alleged that decisions concerning the proposed concession were being imposed without adequate recourse to established industrial relations mechanisms.
The coordinators commended the National President of ASCSN, Shehu Mohammed, and the national leadership for what they described as their steadfastness.
They said the national leadership had remained committed to protecting the integrity of the union and the rights of its members.
The ASCSN coordinators also commended the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) for its intervention in the dispute.
They specifically acknowledged the role of the TUC Secretary-General, Comrade Nuhu Toro, in efforts to resolve the disagreement.
The coordinators recalled that their September 17 meeting with Alausa produced some understandings aimed at addressing the outstanding issues.
They said one of the understandings was the establishment of a broad-based committee involving all relevant stakeholders.
They added that documents relating to the disputed concession were also expected to be made available for scrutiny.
The coordinators, however, alleged that almost one week after the meeting, the proposed committee had not been constituted.
They further alleged that the relevant documents had also not been made available to the union for examination.
The development, they said, amounted to a breach of the understanding reached during the meeting with the minister.
They consequently questioned the sincerity of the authorities in resolving the dispute through what they described as transparent processes.
The zonal coordinators also rejected what they described as “unauthorised statements” announcing the suspension of the strike.
They insisted that only the recognised leadership of ASCSN had the authority to issue directives concerning the industrial action.
The ASCSN coordinators further alleged that the ministry had engaged individuals whom it described as unauthorised persons claiming to represent ASCSN.
According to them, such engagements could undermine the recognised leadership and established procedures for industrial relations.
They also condemned the alleged deployment of armed policemen to King’s College, Lagos, during the dispute.
