Rivers NCSU Boss Condemns Invasion Of Secretariat … As Union Suspends SEC Members

The Chairman of the Nige
ria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Rivers State council, Comrade O.T. Lilly-West, has condemned in strong terms the invasion of the union’s secretariat in Port Harcourt last Friday by some members of the union and hired thugs, describing the act as unfortunate and unwarranted.
It would be recalled that the  State Assistant Secretary of the union, Comrade Ade Asiegbu allegedly led some members of the union and suspected thugs to the No.14 Ikwerre Road secretariat of  the union, invaded it and allegedly forced the main gate open.
On gaining access into the offices of the State Chairman and the State Secretary, they were alleged to have looted, vandalised and carted away monies and valuables worth millions of naira.
They were also alleged to have brutalised some union members including the State Auditor, Comrade Peaceman Horsfall and made away with their mobile phones.
Comrade Lilly-West, who condemned the incident in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the news of the invasion of the union’s secretariat came to him as a rude shock, as he could not pin-point what he had done wrong  to warrant such an act.
He further noted that his administration had been carrying along members of the union including the former State Assistant Secretary, whom he described as one of his closest allies and friends, and recalled that he had recently appointed him  the chairman of the May Day Committee.
He said there was nothing like caretaker committee to run the affairs of the union in the state, as he was fully in charge, being an elected state chairman of the union.
Comrade Lilly-West also debunked insinuations that there are factions within the union, adding that members of his executive committee were still intact, and urged the union members to remain calm.
He maintained that what Comrade Asiegbu and his cohorts did was beyond unionism, as it was purely a criminal matter, stressing that there were proper channels for aggrieved union members to express their grievances instead of  taking the law into their hands.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) in Rivers State has suspended members of the union involved in the invasion of the union’s secretariat in Port Harcourt.
The union dropped the hint in the wake of its emergency State Executive Council meeting held at the union’s secretariat in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
In a communiqué signed by the State Chairman, Comrade O.T. Lilly-West and the State Secretary, Comrade Dan Otakpo, the union said the affected members were suspended for their roles in the invasion saga and what it described as anti-union activities and acts capable of bringing the union into disrepute.
Those suspended include the State Assistant Secretary, Comrade Ade Asiegbu, the unit chairman, Ministry of Youth Development, Comrade Sunny Eremasara, his Culture and Tourism counterpart, Comrade Eldred Korubo and the unit chairman, Ministry of Women Affairs, Comrade Confidence Amah.
Others are former unit chairman, Ministry of Agriculture, Comrade M.H.I. Eferebo, secretary, Ministry of Justice, Comrade Kingsley Okere, chairman, Ministry of Transport, Comrade Koko Harrison and member, Ministry of Education, Comrade Egbo Simeon.
Following the suspension of the State Assistant Secretary, Comrade Ade Asiegbu, the unit chairman of Local Government Audit, Comrade Dere Tammy was appointed the Acting State Assistant Secretary of the union.
The SEC also passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of Comrade O.T. Lilly-West, and mandated him and the State Administrative Council to pursue all issues affecting civil servants in the state and the union with vigour, and urged them to remain focused in spite of antics to distract them.