The Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana has devised a another strategy to silence ASUP Unwana once again.
He has dragged our executives to the Ebonyi State headquarters of the Department of State Services this week with the intention of intimidating them into submission. However, before we go into the crust of the matter on ground, it delight us to first and foremost state what the DSS is and what the constitution has to say about its roles and powers in the Federal Republic of NIGERIA.
NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES ACT: An Act to disband the Nigerian Security Organisation and to create three security agencies, charging each with the conduct of the relevant aspect of the national security and other related matters.[1986 No. 19.)[5th June, 1986][Commencement.)
Establishment of National Security Agencies.
There shall, for the effective conduct of national security, be established the following National Security Agencies, that is to say-
(a) the Defence Intelligence Agency;(b) the National Intelligence Agency; (c) the State Security Service.
General Duties of the National Security Agencies.
Key functions of the SSS
1).The mission of the SSS is to protect and defend the Federal Republic of Nigeria against domestic threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to both federal and state law-enforcement organs.
Question: where does agitation of ASUP UNWANA CHAPTER lies in this paragraph that enacted the SSS to call the EXCOS up for a coercion to quit their strike action and allow our RECTOR who has cases with EFFC AND ICPC bothering on corruption to go scot free? Where is the justice in this and the fight against corruption our beloved president has always stood for?why are we facing a case of the thief calling its prey the criminal.?
2).The SSS is also charged with the protection of the President, Vice President,Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, State Governors, their immediate families, other high ranking government officials, past presidents and their spouses, certain candidates for the offices of President and Vice President, and visiting foreign heads of state and government.
Question: who amongst these personalities do we have in AIFPU because this will be a good reason for the SSS to meddle in the case of ASUP matter or has our RECTOR being a past president in the time of ADAM &EVE that wasnt recorded in the present time?
3).The SSS has constantly adapted to various roles necessitated by evolving security threats in Nigeria including counter-terrorism and counter-insurgent.
Question: Could peaceful protest and non-violent agitation of a union for its rightful pay now be tagged terrorism?
Rector Sir, you forgot one thing.
The DG DSS, Mr Lawal Musa Daura, forbids his State Directors interfering on matters that do not strictly bother on issues of national security.
I want to advise the DSS of Ebonyi State Command to steer clear on the issues of industrial disharmony between members of ASUP Unwana and the Polytechnic Management.
The basis for ASUP struggle is perceived corruption.
ASUP has severally accused management of illegal salary deductions. The management has been presented with documents showing that these deductions are illegal and management is yet to provide counter documents proving ASUP Unwana wrong.
I ask you DSS Ebonyi State Director Sir, are you supporting this corruption?
Why are you compelling our executives to call off the strike?
Has your office become the appropriate place to settle industrial disharmony between an employer and the employees?
We are using this medium to call on the DG DSS, the Honourable Minister of Labour, Honourable Minister of Education and all well-meaning Nigerians to help stop this infringement on the civil rights of diligent Nigerian workers whose salaries have been illegally deducted on monthly basis since the year 2016.
