20th March 2023
The President
Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN)
National Secretariate
Abuja
Nigeria.
Attention: Secretary General, ASCSN
Recall some years ago precisely 2018, some members of ASCSC-FIRS reported certain ugly developments with respect to the relationship between staff and Management of FIRS. We did this because the Unit Executives were helpless and overwhelmed in challenging some of the obnoxious and toxic management’s decisions on many important staff matters. Unfortunately, we all knew how our grievances then were swept under the carpet unattended to.
Despite this however, we patiently waited hoping that the ugly relationship would be reversed following the emergence of the new leadership of FIRS in 2019. It is sad to report that we were better off under the previous regime, some of whose decisions were challenged in 2018, than we currently are at the moment. We are aggrieved because certain rights and privileges of staff are gradually being taken away without recourse to Human Resources Policy Document. The Union leaders of ASCSN-FIRS Unit have completely lost the confidence reposed in them by all members and staff of FIRS. They have lost touch with the reality of events in FIRS. The Unit Excos could no longer have meaningful conversations and constructive engagements with FIRS Board and Management, hence the dignity of staff in FIRS is in jeopardy. We have no other places to seek protection against the toxic working environment in FIRS except you, Sir.
We have received reports from many colleagues that have suffered various forms and degrees of injustice and maltreatment including but not limited to;
relocation/redeployment allowance, unpaid duty tour allowance, working hazards without compensation, loss of lives during promotion exercises, unnecessary anxiety and pressure due to inadequate vacancies amidst surreptitious recruitments into the system, promotions denials and/or delays with attendant unpaid promotion arrears, destabilized mental and psychological state of minds of staff and general well-being of staff. The rigor and depression of staff arising from the inconclusive 2022-2023 promotion exercises are so much left to be desired. As a result, the staff productivity is at the LOWEST as this has impacted negatively on the tax revenue collection performance for the first quarter of 2023 tax year. Many employees have expressed fear of losing their jobs and/or being victimized with punitive redeployment if they ever speak out against these abuses.
Note that just last week when it was reported that the outstanding 2022-2023 promotion list would be approved by the Board to put an end to all the shenanigans that characterized the promotion exercises, a memo was sent to all staff that some categories of candidates for the promotion should submit themselves for a written examination after three (3) attempts by FIRS Management to conduct Computer-Based Test (CBT) for the same promotion. In view of this, we conclude that the memo has further justified our position that the Management lacks competence and character to conducting promotion examinations for its staff under a free, fair, credible and conducive environment.
As members of this association, we believe that the National Secretariat of ASCSN and other relevant authorities have certain responsibilities to ensuring that all FIRS staff are treated fairly and with dignity. It is therefore imperative that urgent action is needed to address these issues going forward.
We plead that you prevail on FIRS Board and Management to suspend the written examinations scheduled to hold on Thursday 23rd March 2023, while the results of the last CBT already submitted for consideration by the Board and Management be reviewed and approved as promotion list for the remaining 2022 and 2023 promotion exercise.
We shall not hesitate to honor your invitation to shed more lights on these lingering issues facing all FIRS staff should the need arises.
Thank you.
Aggrieved FIRS Staff
Cc:
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation
The Minister of Finance & Economic Development
The Executive Chairman, FIRS
The President of the Senate
The Speaker of the House of Representatives
Head of Service of the Federation
The President, Trade Union Congress
All Staff, FIRS.
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