By Naomi Sharan
Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and government-owned companies (SSASCGOC) has rejected NLC and AUPCTRE’s claims on unionisation and check-off dues for senior officers of Industrial Training Fund (ITF), saying it is unlawful, misleading and without legal basis.
Acting General Secretary of SSASCGOC, Mr Akin Okudero, stated this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Okudero expressed concern over the persistent and illegal labour practices being promoted by NLC on behalf of AUPCTRE (Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees).
He stated that the matter of union jurisdiction within ITF had been settled by the National Industrial Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal in July 2023.
“SSASCGOC views with grave concern the disturbing, incessant and unlawful labour practices being promoted by the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“This is on behalf of its affiliate unions and, in this instance, the current issue in the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) by AUPCTRE,” he said.
According to him, the Court of Appeal judgment of 2023 clearly delineates the jurisdiction of the two unions, affirming SSASCGOC as the exclusive union for officers on Grade Level 07 and above in statutory corporations and government-owned companies.
Okudero further stated that the judgment also restricted AUPCTRE to junior staff on Grade Level 06 and below.
He said: “It is a trite law that SSASCGOC operations are legally based on its registration as an association under the Trade Union Act of Nigeria.
“The Trade Union Act, CAP T. 14 of 2004, Third Schedule, PART B, Section 34(3) aptly prescribes AUPCTRE’s scope, while, PART C of the Act spells out SSASCGOC’s scope, together with the Association’s Constitution and Bye-Law, which define the workers the two unions can organise”.
Okudero added that several court judgments had also consistently affirmed SSASCGOC as the appropriate union for senior staff in statutory corporations.
While condemning AUPCTRE’s alleged lobbying of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, he insisted that no ministry or department had the authority to review or overturn court judgments.
Addressing references by NLC and AUPCTRE to Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, Okudero stated that the right to freedom of association is qualified, not absolute.
“This does not permit workers to join unions outside their legally-designated jurisdiction—a position already upheld by the courts,” he said.
The SSASCGOC scribe called on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to caution NLC against further threats to its member-organisations over what it described as a settled legal matter.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)