NEWS
NLC Urges OHSF to Withdraw Circular Banning Civil, Public Servants from Partisan Politics
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHSF) to withdraw the circular that ‘claims’ to prohibit civil and public servants from engaging in partisan politics.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said yesterday in Abuja.
Wabba was reacting to a circular issued by the OHSF entitled, “Re- Clarification on the Provision of Public Service Rules (PSR) vis-a-vis the Supreme Court Judgment as it relates to Participation of Civil Servants in partisan Politics”.
The NLC president described it as “ill conceived and ill-founded circular”.
It would be recalled that on May 8, the OHSF issued a circular to the heads of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
The circular claimed that based on the legal opinion of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Nov. 28, 2018, that civil and public servants were prohibited from joining or engaging in partisan politics in any form.
According to him, since the release of the circular, Congress has been inundated with calls from workers and other well-meaning Nigerians on the implication of the content of the circular.
“We have also been engaged by very senior legal luminaries all over the country on the validity in law of the contents of the circular.
“That states inter alia neither the 1999 Constitution nor the Supreme Court has authorised civil servants to engage in partisan politics.
“The provisions of Rules 030422 of the Public Service Rules (2008 Edition) were not nullified by the Supreme Court, hence they remain in force and binding on all civil servants seeking to participate in nomination exercises or party primaries.
“The provisions of Rules 030402(g), 030422 and 030423 of the Public Service Rules (2008 Edition) should be enforced,” he said.
“The attention of civil servants should be drawn to the fact that the Supreme Court judgment in INEC vs Musa did not set aside or nullify these provisions of the Public Service Rules.
“They must comply with by any civil servant who wishes to seek nomination or participation in party primary elections,” according to the circular.
According to Wabba, our response to this circular is to state that while we esteem the high office of the Head of the Service of the Federation and the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice who appear to be in the eye of the stir generated by the referenced official circular.
He added that, we are persuaded and so firmly posit that your positions on this matter negate the letters and spirit of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Your position and that of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice also impugns the character and principles of Constitutionality.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the ground norm and mother womb of all laws in Nigeria supersedes and overrides every other law,’’ he said.
He noted that Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution was explicit in its unqualified provision and guarantee of the right of every Nigerian including civil servants to assemble freely and associate with other persons.
He added, we must state that the position of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is further reinforced by Sections 66( 1 ); 107 (1 137 142(2); 182; 187(2); and 222 which acknowledge the right of civil and public servants to engage in partisan politics and even stand for elective positions.
“The only condition is that such public servants must resign- from their positions at least 30 days before the elections in which to stand as candidates(not aspirants) are held.
He noted that, in light of the provisions of Sections 107 (1 137 (1 142(2); 182; 187(2); and 222 of the Nigerian Constitution, we ask, “is it possible for a public servant to emerge as a candidate of a political party and required to resign if they are not card-card carrying members of political parties?”
“The answer to this question is all the clarification needed on the eligibility of civil and public servants to engage in partisan politics,” he said.
Wabba also noted that NLC National Workers Political Conference held in March, the NLC had asked Nigerian workers to join political parties that were worker-friendly and which have subscribed to the Nigerian Workers Charter of Demands.
He said that it was unfortunate that the circular by the HoSF appeared primed to douse the already raging enthusiasm of Nigerian workers to form a critical mass that would determine the swing of the political pendulum in the 2023 general election.
“Well, it is unfortunate that this misplaced and mischievous circular is coming a little too late especially after the bull had charged from the barn.
“Nigerian workers will not sit supine and watch unscrupulous politicians toy with the destiny of our fatherland again,” he said. (NAN)
The Israeli military said on Monday it had gained control of airspace over Tehran and destroyed a third of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile launch pads.The casualties mounted on the fourth day of the conflict between the two regional powers.Military spokesperson Effie Defrin said that more than 50 Israeli fighter jets and precision missiles were involved in the strikes overnight.
This was targeted and destroyed over 120 Iranian launch pads. Missile depots and production facilities were also hit, he said.According to Defrin, Iran launched 65 missiles and dozens of drones at Israel overnight apparently only about half of what Iran’s military had intended to fire.“We thwarted a significant portion of the planned attack.“We can now say that we have achieved full air superiority in the skies over Tehran,’’ he said.He added that Israeli forces were continuing to target units actively attempting to launch missiles or engage Israeli aircraft.Since Friday, Israel has carried out widespread strikes on Iranian territory, including nuclear sites, defence installations, urban targets, and oil and gas infrastructure.According to the military, the attacks have also killed several high-ranking officers and nuclear scientists.Defrin reiterated that the operation’s central aim is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.He said strikes would now expand further east into Iran.“We still have difficult days ahead,but we will get through them together and emerge victorious,” he said.Iranian strikes kill eightIsrael’s Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday promised harsh retaliation against Tehran following a fresh wave of deadly Iranian rocket attacks on Israeli cities overnight.Iran had carried out targeted shots at the civilian home front in Israel, he said, adding that “residents of Tehran will pay the price and soon.’’According to emergency services, eight people were killed and 92 injured in the overnight attacks.The total number of fatalities in Israel since Friday now stands at 23.Emergency officials reported four strikes in the Tel Aviv area.U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the embassy’s branch office in Tel Aviv sustained “minor damage from concussions’’ caused by a nearby impact, but no injuries were reported.Iran casualties mountAt least 224 people have been killed in Iran since the Israeli attacks began last week, the Health Ministry said.Some 1,277 had been injured, a ministry official wrote on X on Sunday. More than 90 per cent of the casualties were civilians, the spokesman said.Iranian media reported that an Israeli strike hit a hospital in the western city of Kermanshah, with a video from the Shargh newspaper showing a damaged intensive care unit and a blood-stained bed.An Israeli army spokesman said the reports are under investigation.Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are protected civilian sites and may only be targeted if clearly used for military purposes. (dpa/NAN)
A Federal High Courtin in Lagos, on Monday, held that it would await the decision of the Court of Appeal in a suit by Ecobank challenging alleged sale of 6.3 billion shares in Barbican Capital Ltd.Ecobank had filed the suit against Obafemi Otudeko, Barbican Capital Ltd., and Honeywell Flour Mills of Nig.
Plc. as the first, second and third defendants, respectively. Also joined as defendants are: Siloam Global Services Ltd. , Oyeleye Foluke, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings Plc., Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Nigerian Stock Exchange as the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth defendants, respectivelyThe plaintiff, through its counsel, Mr Kunle Ogunba (SAN), is seeking, among other things, an interlocutory order restraining the defendants, collectively or individually, from taking any steps to sell, transfer or otherwise deal with the N6.3 billion aggregate shares of Barbican Capital Ltd. in FBN Holdings Plc. pending determination of the suit.The bank is also seeking an interlocutory order to restrain the defendants from converting the shares of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. pledged to Ecobank in furtherance of a credit facility, into cash or any negotiable instrument, pending determination of the suit.The defendants had, however, filed preliminary objections challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.They filed the objections on the grounds that a similar suit was pending before Justice Yellin Bogoro.The defendants also raised objections on the grounds that there was a pending appeal on the matter before the Court of Appeal.They said that the pending suit and appeal deprived the court of the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.The defence had sought transfer of the case to the court’s administration judge since a similar suit was before Justice.In a ruling on Monday, Dipeolu held that the court would not entertain applications in a suit pending before an appellate court.“It will amount to judicial recklessness for the court to proceed,” he held.He held that it was trite law that once an appeal was entered and the court was notified, the lower court would be stripped of its jurisdiction.He cited the case of Okafor versus Attorney-General of Anambra State.He said that parties in the suit had already informed the court of the existence of a similar suit before Bogoro, adding that the issue had been resolved.He said that the court would not act on any application before it pending the court of appeal’s decision.Dipeolu adjourned the case until Dec. 1 for mention.Report says that Ecobank brought its suit marked FHC/L/CS/638/2025 pursuant to Order 26 Rules 5(1) and 6(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure Rules) 2019, and Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.The suit is supported by a 38-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Mr Jafaru Kupa, a Financial Officer at Ecobank.At the last adjourned date, Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Mr Ade Adedeji (SAN), and Mr Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) appeared for the first, second and third defendants, respectively.Mr Ademola Adesina appeared under protest for the fourth and fifth defendants, while Ms Abiola Ogundare and Mr Luqman Salman represented the sixth and seventh defendants.Explaining his appearance under protest, Adesina said that fourth and fifth defendants had not been personally served with the originating processes.He claimed that the defendants only became aware of the suit through media reports. (NAN)
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, has arrived Yelwata town in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, where scores were killed in a coordinated attack on Friday night.Report says that his visit followed the prolonged attacks on communities in the state by armed herders/bandits.
Musa is expected to meet with Gov. Hyacinth Alia in Government House before leaving. Report says that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, is also expected in Benue for a working visit. (NAN)
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