The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) branch has dissolved its Executives for failure on the part of the leadership and in a swift reaction, constituted a 5-man Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs on the Union, pending fresh elections to be conducted in two months.

This followed a vote of no confidence, unanimously passed on the suspended executives by members of the Union at a congress, held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at the Institute’s Head Office, located at No. 23, Kigoma Street, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja-FCT, over issues of non-accountability, financial recklessness, anti-union activities and over-ridding personal interests by suspended EXCO members among other allegations.

The Caretaker Committee has Mr. Ibrahim Sule Malgwi as Chairman; Tope Ibrahim (Secretary); Ibrahim Kantoma; Deborah Tandawadon and Inyang Ibor as members with the mandate to liaise with the past executive towards reconciling accounts, call for congress and conduct elections in June, 2018.

Speaking with NICO News shortly after their inauguration, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Ibrahim Sule Malgwi said the Committee is committed to work assiduously towards returning the Union to its lost glory as well as protect the welfare of all staff.

In his words “We belong to everybody and we belong to no one. Our mandate is a short one but we promise to do our best to return AUPCTRE in NICO to her rightful place. We will do our best to reconcile all factions in the overall interest of the Union. We therefore implore all concerned to shield their sword in the overall interest and welfare of NICO Staff.”

Reacting to the development, the Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Louis Eriomala while congratulating the Caretaker Committee Chairman and his team on their new assignment, said for him, it is a prayer answered, disclosing that he had always prayed to God for someone who will not only lead but also project the image of the Union and indeed the Institute in a positive light.

Earlier during the congress, the AUPCTRE Secretary, FCT Chapter, Comrade Sikiru Waheed said AUPCTRE remains a peace-loving Union with the overall interest of all workers at heart. He disclaimed the notion that AUPCTRE is a Union for Junior Staff, saying there is a trade union amendment of 2005 that gives one the freedom to belong to any union of choice, irrespective of their levels in the service.

Similarly speaking, the AUPCTRE Chairman, FCT Chapter, Comrade Aliyu Maradon described some of the insinuations about AUPCTRE as false and made of ignorance. He maintained that the Union will not compel any member of staff to remain in AUPCTRE or move to another union, but the overall powers to decide lies with the congress. In his words “This congress of NICO workers has more powers than the state chapter to decide what happens here. If you have a unanimous position, we cannot go against it except it is in breach of the constitution.”

“If you want anybody to give you details of the Union’s account, you are at the right forum. If this congress decides, so be it. You have the right to decide. You can set an audit committee and investment panel. We will dissolve the EXCO and appoint a new caretaker committee and the suspended EXCO will be made to give account of their stewardship”, he said.  

Earlier in his opening remarks, the immediate past Acting Chairman, Comrade Muyiwa Dada said it was necessary and expedient to hold the congress as a platform for members to brainstorm on issues surrounding them. “I want to believe that this congress will give us the opportunity to air our views, listen to our challenges and chart a new cause in the struggle for our social welfare.”

You will recall that Comrade Promise Onyeka was recently suspended by the FCT Chapter of the Union as Chairman of AUPCTRE, NICO branch alongside Comrade Chioma Obaze, who was Secretary while Comrade Muyiwa Dada who was until their suspension, the Vice Chairman assumed the position as Acting Chairman of the Branch before the dissolution of the EXCO.

Caleb Nor

Media Assistant to Ag. ES

NICO HQ

Abuja-FCT