FG withdraws labour union registration certificate over dispute

The Federal Government has withdrawn the certificate of registration
issued to Agricultural and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria (AAEUN)
following leadership tussle with sister union, Agriculture and Allied
Workers Union (AAWUN).

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige

A letter to AAEUN signed by Mrs Omoudy Akpan, Director, Trade Union
Services and Industrial Relations Department, Ministry of Labour and
Employment, said the withdrawal was in compliance with a Court of Appeal
judgment.

It reads: “The Ministry forthwith declines recognition of both the
Agriculture and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria (AAEUN) and the
Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (AAWUN) factions, as Unions in the
Agriculture sector.

“Consequent upon the above, the Ministry hereby withdraws the certificate of registration reg no. 0112 issued to AAEUN.

“In view of the above, both factions AAEUN and AAWUN are hereby
directed to meet and come up with a registrable name in compliance with
section 27 of the Trade Union Act Cap. T14 (LFN) 2004.

“Note, however, that all parties to the terms of settlement which
formed the basis of the consent judgment must be part of the process as
provided by Section 27 of the Trade Union Act,” Ministry said in the
letter.

A similar letter from the Ministry of Justice had declared that both
AAWUN and AAEUN have ceased to exist and were now under Agricultural and
Allied Union of Nigeria (AAUN).

It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal had in June 2012 ruled
that both the AAEUN and the AAWUN be collapsed into the AAUN.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a reconciliatory
meeting held between the unions had agreed that a process be initiated
for a change of the union’s name to AAUN and a new certificate issued.

Other agreements which formed part of the meeting’s terms of
settlement included “that the dissolution of the state council of both
parties be carried out within three months from entry of these terms of
settlement.

“That the former staff will be re-instated without losing position,
salary grade level and rank; that the payment of the entitlement of the
former General Secretary comrade R.O. Ikumajogwu, be paid as soon as
funds are available alongside with the staff affected by the crises and
either reinstated or retained.

“That this resolution will be registered in the Court of Appeal as
terms of settlement to facilitate the immediate withdrawal of the case
in court.”

The parties had also agreed to put a motion in place for the
withdrawal of the case from Court of Appeal, Lagos Division having
settled out of court.