The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has slammed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, over her recent directive barring civil servants from engaging in partisan politics.
NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the statement as being “at odds with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the judgment of the Supreme Court on this issue.”
In a statement released on Monday, Ajaero said:”The attention of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been drawn to a statement by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, that civil servants are banned from participating in partisan politics.
“We are alarmed that this matter is being resurrected again after Organised Labour thought that it had been thrashed before the 2023 general election.”
Ajaero pointed out Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees the right of every Nigerian, including civil servants, to assemble freely and associate with other persons, including forming or belonging to any political party.
“The verbatim rendering of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution states as follows: ‘Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests…'”, he said.
The NLC President also cited a Supreme Court judgment in a suit between INEC and AGF vs Musa and Others (2002), which ruled that the provisions of Section 40 of the Constitution allow “every person”, including public office holders and civil servants, the freedom to assemble and associate with other persons, to form and belong to any political party.
“The Supreme Court Court of Nigeria… ruled in an unambiguous judgment delivered by Late Chief Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, which excerpts are as follows: ‘The provisions of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution are clear. Their import is to allow “every person”, including public office holders and civil servants, the freedom to assemble and associate with other persons, to form and belong to any political party, or trade union or any association for the protection of their interests,” Ajaero added.
Ajaero called on all civil servants and workers in the private sector to actively engage in partisan politics as part of their civic responsibilities.
“We call on all civil servants and workers in the private sector to actively engage in partisan politics as part of their civic responsibilities,” he said, emphasizing that the NLC will continue to defend the rights of workers and civil servants.
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