Nigeria’s National Assembly premises has been shut down as workers under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, again commenced an indefinite strike.
The staff undertook the industrial action to protest the continued delay in the full implementation of their revised conditions of service.
PASAN had about a year ago, suspended its indefinite strike to allow the implementation of the Memorandum of Action.
In May 2020, the Parliamentary Staff Association wrote a letter to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, appealing to them to wade into the crisis.
The complaint alluded to an alleged plot to stop the implementation of the revised conditions of service for members.
The workers lament that despite the chance given to NASS to commence the implementation of the agreement, nothing has been done.
A member of PASAN EXCO who gave a hint about their ordeal in a conversation with the Daily Post, said members of the group have decided to shut down activities of the National Assembly until their needs are met.
“The two chapters, National Assembly Commission and the National Assembly chapter have unanimously agreed that we will are going on an indefinite strike because we have a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU that was signed but the management has refused to implement the agreement.
“The MoU was signed on March 21, 2020, but to date, nothing has been implemented,” said the PASAN member who spoke anonymously with newsmen.
He added: “There was an act on consequential adjustment on minimum wage, the Federal Government has released fund for that but till date, the National Assembly Service is being owed the arrears of that minimum wage”.
The National Assembly Commission, Utako facility was under lock and key and officials were sighted wandering within the area as at the time of this report.
Read also:
Security Operatives Take over National Assembly as Workers Protest Unpaid Salaries (video)
NASS Shut Down as Parliamentary Workers Begin Strike (photos)