Union Decries Dispersal Of Protesting Workers

President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Comrade Shehu Mohammed, has faulted the dispersal of protesting workers of the Federal Ministry of Finance who embarked on a peaceful protest against the government’s anti-worker activities last Wednesday, saying the action was an embarrassment to the country.

Mohammed, who lamented employers’ anti-labour practices, said the unprovoked attack on the workers during a peaceful protest was also against the renewed hope agenda of the present government.

It should be recalled that security operatives dispersed protesting Ministry workers exercising their legitimate rights and demanding payment of their outstanding arrears.

ASCSN, in a statement signed by the secretary-general of ASCSN, Comrade Joshua Apebo, urged the government to act now and address the unfair treatment of Nigerian workers

The Association frowned at the delay in the payments, despite all efforts by the Association to see to the payments.

Apebo therefore called for the payment of the arrears now, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda to address all issues concerning workers with fairness.

It also called on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to provide immediate financial backing to pay all outstanding entitlements owed to Education Officers and other public servants without further delay.

The Association said these entitlements are not limited to salaries, promotion, and elongation arrears but include 28 days in lieu, allowances, DTA, and payment to Education Officers who were dislocated from unity schools in the North-East and other areas. It said such would create jobs at the directorate level.

Recalling various efforts made to ensure allowances are paid, Comrade Apebo disclosed that the demand has been presented at multiple Annual General Meetings of the Federal Unity Schools in the past five years.

“Several resolutions were passed and forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Education. In January 2025, the union issued an ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Education to implement all the demands, but they were not adhered to,’’ he said.