Civil Service workers seek removal of president over retirement allegation

Some executive members of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) have asked the National Industrial Court to stop the President of the union, Kiri Mohammed from parading himself as the President of the union.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa unit secretary, Benson Ekasa and Deputy National President of the union, Menele Nzidee, who approached the court through their Lawyer, Mr. Stephen Apeh, asked the court to declare that Mohammed had retired from the Union and that by virtue of such retirement, he could no longer remain in office as the Union President.

They also asked the court to declare that the office of the President of the union had become vacant because Mohammed who still occupied the office had since retired from the Jigawa State Civil Service since January this year (2016).

They further asked the court to declare that the continuous stay of Mohammed as the president of the union after his retirement from the Jigawa State Civil Service since January was unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null and void.

In an affidavit deposed to by Ekasa and attached to the originating summons, he stated that a letter from the Jigawa State’s Head of Civil Service, dated 26/10/2015, confirmed Mohammed’s retirement date as January. (Copy of the letter attached as exhibit.)

He also averred that membership of the union was restricted to ‎only persons who were in the employment of Civil Service of either the state of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

However, Mohammed in a counter-affidavit stated that the allegation that he retired in January was false.

He added that he is still in the service of the Jigawa Civil Service and would not retire until February 23, 2018.

He also exhibited a letter showing that he is still within the service of the Jigawa State Civil Service.