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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dissolved and proscribed the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), FIRS Unit.
A statement issued by the Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, said there is no longer junior staff category in the FIRS, hence, the union had become moribund.
“In line with Gazette No. 6 Vol 65 dated 8, February 1978, and National Industrial Court Judgement dated 27, June 1995, it is noted that the operations of Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), FIRS Unit, as it is constituted today in FIRS is considered illegal as there are no longer any junior staff cadre employees in the service.
“There is accordingly no legal or other bases whatsoever for the continued existence of a junior staff cadre union in FIRS as the cadre of staff it is deemed to cover do not exist within the organisation.
“A letter from Federal Ministry of Labour to the Head of Service of the Federation dated 19, February 2015, confirmed the above position in categorical terms,” the statement read.
The statement also clarified that the right of workers to decide which union to belong to is not absolute, but must be exercised within the limits of the Trade Unions Act CAP T14 LFN 2004.
According to the statement, “this position was confirmed in the Judgment of the National Industrial Court – NCSU vs ASCSN (2004) 1NLLR Part 3, 427.”
“In the light of all the above, The FIRS Board at its Meeting No. 30 held on the 24, June 2021, therefore, directed that, in view of items 1 & 2 above, the activities of NCSU FIRS Unit in the Service are henceforth considered illegal and the Union (NCSU FIRS Unit) is hereby proscribed with immediate effect,” it added.
The management assured staff of the agency that it was willing to work with the only legitimate representatives of staff, which is the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria.