The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Federal Council, Abuja, has set machinery in motion to resolve the disagreement between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and its workers, who have been demanding improved welfare and other working conditions.
The union, which made its position known on the issue, after rising from its 55th Federal Executive Council meeting last Tuesday in Abuja, expressed sadness over the adamant posture of the management of FIRS in engaging NCSU as a way of resolving the disagreement.
The union, therefore, directed its federal council to employ whatever means to ensure that it brings the management of FIRS to a round table discussion while placing all MDAs affiliated to NCSU on red alert in case of further interventions.
The union, which gave this indication in a communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Federal Council, Comrade Timothy Odebunmi and the Secretary, Comrade Daniel Otakpo also stressed the need for the Federal Government and state governments to reduce the cost of governance in view of dwindling resources.
It regretted that while a greater parentage of the youths are unemployed or facing abject poverty, hundreds of millions of naira is used in maintaining and paying political office holders, and, therefore, urged government at all levels to cut down the size of political appointees in order to save resources to meet other development needs and programmes.
The FEC-in-session equally expressed concern over the level of mass poverty and insecurity in the country as well as corruption, and called on the Federal Government to put policy measures in place that would address the level of poverty and unemployment as a guarantee for social security and peaceful co-existence.
The union noted the decline in the provision of appropriate and adequate training needs in the federal civil service, and called on government at all levels to urgently adopt a training package for all cadres of civil servants that will be comprehensive, cost effective and proactive; equip officers and personnel with requisite skills, ability and competence; and reposition the civil service for it to respond to the challenges of neutrality, responsiveness, efficiency and transparency.
It also frowned at the shortage of working materials in some MDAs, a situation it said has slowed down the rate of output by workers in the MDAs and advised the various organs of government to re-double their efforts by ensuring that working materials are readily available for civil servants to deliver on their mandate. The union equally called for total overhaul of the federal secretariat, as most of the lifts are dysfunctional, a situation, it noted has become an impediment for workers and visitors alike to access their offices.
The union further noted that overheads to MDAs are grossly inadequate to carry out the business of government, and condemned in strong terms the tendency by some heads of departments to deploy money without recourse to financial guidelines and regulations, stressing that in some cases, such monies are diverted for personal aggrandizement, and therefore, advised all those involved to stop the ugly trend.
It felicitated with the new Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Aghugbu Arhofomhenla Adolphus over his appointment, saying , it was based on merit, honesty, hardwork and dedication to service, and also congratulated the council Secretary, Comrade Daniel Otakpo and his predecessor, Comrade Prince Rasheed Sani for their elevations to the rank of Assistant General Secretary of NCSU, and reaffirmed the council’s commitment, loyalty and trust in the national leadership of the union led by the President, Comrade (Chief) Lawrence Uchechukwu Amaechi.

By: Donatus Ebi