MEMBERS of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) have jointly written separate letters to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Ministry of Labour and Employment with detailed evidence to support their allegation that the National President of NCSU, Comrade Lawrence Amaechi, has actually retired after 35 years in the federal civil service.
The members who also signed and sent separate petitions to the Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accused the NLC of not responding to an earlier letter signed by only one of the signatories, Comrade Benson Ekasa, a staff of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa.
The two other signatories who joined Comrade Benson to sign the most recent letters to the NLC and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, both dated September 23, 2021, include Comrade Theresa A. Abraham and Comrade Abdulazeez Aliyu; staff the Federal Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Works and Housing, respectively.
The Letters
In the letter to the NLC, entitled: “Re: Retirement of the Purported National President of NCSU From the Federal Civil Service,” Comrades Abraham, Ekasa and Aliyu noted that their letter “is a follow-up and also a notification” on some developments, arising from the previous letter dated 8th September, 2021 and received in on 9th September, 2021.
“We are aware that Com. Amaechi Lawrence Uchechukwu is still parading himself as the President of the NCSU even after his retirement and also is still recognized by the NLC as one of the Vice President [sic] of the NLC representing the NCSU,” they said, asserting that up to the time they were writing, the NLC had not done any official response or correspondence to the letter.
Copy of Letter to Minister of Labour and Employment
The union members further stated: “We would want to state categorically that, the NLC is in the know of the litigation which has lingered in the NCSU and has not taken any official step to reach parties involved in this. As the leading Labour Centre in Nigeria which the NCSU is an affiliate of, we have officially informed the NLC of our grievance from the beginning and nothing has been done to avert this crisis that gave rise to litigations.
“To this end, we are also formally again bringing to the notice of the President of Labour the following steps which we have also recently taken:
“We have written to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of the corrupt practices of Com. Amaechi Lawrence Uchechukwu (See attached);
“We have also written similar letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of the activities of Com. Amaechi Lawrence Uchechukwu (See attached);
“We have also written a similar Letter to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity informing him of the activities in the NCSU.”
Accompanying the letter, the unionists said, include the official gazette showing the confirmation date of Comrade Amaechi’s employment; his letter of employment by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development dated 8th September, 1986; a copy of IPPIS salary slip showing his date of appointment and his IPPIS number; which they signatories argued will aid verification of his details if the need arises from the IPPIS platform, a copy of the Public Service Rules; and a copy of the NCSU Constitution.
The letter to the Minister of Labour and Employment expressed similar views and information as those in the NLC’s and the petitions to the EFCC and ICPC.
Drama as Letter/Petition Delivered to NCSU Secretariat
There was mild drama last week when copies of the petitions were served on the National Secretariat of NCSU when the person who went to serve the union was detained by an angry Comrade Amaechi, credible sources told National Record.
According the source, Comrade Amaechi, who was at the time in the office, probably recognised the mail bearer who delivered copies of the petition but claimed to be a courier person. Our source said the mail bearer’s mobile phone was seized and he was detained when Comrade Amaechi suspected that he is a unionist posing as a mail bearer.
Our correspondent gathered that the police were alerted and brought into the matter when it was suspected by the person who transported the mail bearer to NCSU secretariat that something must have happened to him.
We gathered that due to the intervention of the police, the unionist-turned courier and Comrade Amaechi were taken to the Utako Police Station where the matter was resolved after the DPO reportedly reproached he embattled President for the detention.
Efforts to contact Comrade Amaechi failed as his number was said not to be available at the time our correspondent called.
One of the petitioners, Comrade Abraham, confirmed the police incident saying the matter was first reported at the Federal Ministry of Justice Police Post who subsequently relayed to SOS to the Utako Police Station.
When asked about the petitions to the EFCC and ICPC. Comrade Abraham said they still have a number of useful documents to give the anti-graft agencies and that they will do so when invited.
“The petition is just a tip of the huge documents we have; when we are invited by them [EFCC and ICPC], we will make those documents available to them,” Comrade Abraham said.
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