NECO’s NASU Chairman resigns over non-implementation of new DTA, other benefits
The Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) branch of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Mohammed Sham-una Aliyu, has resigned from his position.
According to him, he took the action following the failure of the NECO management to implement the payment of the new Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) approved by the federal government in February for workers who went for the November/December NECO exercise.
In a letter, dated November 22, Aliyu described the non-implementation of the new DTA as a disservice to the workers of the council.
He added that his resignation was premised on personal principles and conscience.
“I said in one of my communications to the Registrar, which was thankfully read out to everyone’s hearing yesterday (on Sunday) that I believe a huge disservice would be done to the workers of the council if the New DTA is not implemented as agreed by the November/December exercise.
“I stand by this statement and I believe a huge disservice has been done and someone has to take full responsibility for the failure to implement this as agreed and conveyed to the workers of the council for implementation by November/December 2022.
“Consequently, I, Mohammed Sham-una Aliyu, take full responsibility for this failure and effective immediately resign my position as the Chairman NASU NECO branch.
“All I have is my name, my principles and my conscience. These are the things that help me sleep at night, and I am sorry I cannot sign off on this disapproval and on a clean conscience look any NECO worker in the face and tell them that the reason they’re not getting their entitlements by right is that the council bought vehicles.
“I thank you all most sincerely for the opportunity to serve you and for tolerating my excesses and shortcomings over the period of my stewardship. I apologise most sincerely to the members of the executive and my closest friends and confidants for not giving them the opportunity to have an input in my decision,” the letter said.
Speaking with The Nation yesterday in Minna, the Niger State capital, Aliyu confirmed that he had tendered his resignation as the chairman of the NASU NECO branch.
He added that his resignation was a process as the national headquarters of NASU would have a final say.
Aliyu said he was waiting to hear from them.
“I did tender my resignation, but it is still preliminary. It would have to do with the ratification of the NASU national headquarters. They would be the ones with the final say on that. I am waiting to hear from them as I haven’t heard from them as of today. So, it is still in process and ongoing.”
“I resigned on principle, basically. It had to do with the entitlements of NECO workers. The Federal Government approved a new DTA regime in the public and civil service. That hasn’t been implemented in NECO to date, even though the union had an agreement with the management where the registrar announced that it would be implemented in November.
“But there is a failure on the part of management in this line. I took the step to drive home the fact that the union is not in conformity with that”, he added.