Like in Nasarawa State, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has shut down the House of Assembly in Sokoto and Abia States.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the parliamentary staff are demanding for financial autonomy for the Assembly.
Parliamentary workers shut down Abia Assembly
Members of PASAN in Abia on Monday barricaded entrance to the State House of Assembly as they began an indefinite strike.
The industrial action is over the alleged failure of the state government to implement financial autonomy granted to the State Houses of Assembly.
The members placed a big banner with union’s logo at the Assembly gate as the task force barred anybody from gaining entrance into the complex located on the Government Layout at Ogurube, Umuahia.
Abia PASAN Chairman, Mr Sunday Kalu, told newsmen that the action by the state chapter was in compliance with the directive from the national body.
He said that it was also as a result of the failure of the state government to domesticate the Executive Order 10 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020.
Kalu said that the union had embarked on the strike some years back, but later decided to suspend it after negotiation with the government “and up till now nothing has been done.”
According to him, the union has decided that we embark on indefinite strike, pending when we get a concrete achievement for our members.
Kalu said that some state had started partial implementation but opined that due process was not fully followed.
He said: “In Abia, we have not gotten the administrative autonomy which is paramount.
“We have Abia State House of Assembly Commission Law that empowers the Assembly to stay on its own administratively.
“We are calling on the State Government to do the needful by constituting the Assembly commission and then the financial autonomy.”
PASAN strike: Workers shut down assembly in Sokoto
Similarly, members of the Sokoto State Chapter of PASAN on Monday joined their counterparts nationwide as they embarked on an indefinite strike, shutting down the State House of Assembly complex.
Its Chairman, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, while addressing newsmen in Sokoto explained that the strike was an extension of their ongoing struggle that began in 2020.
He said, “As you may recall, we took similar action in 2020. Following interventions from various sectors, we reached an agreement promising full financial autonomy for the legislative arm of government.
“However, former President Muhammadu Buhari signed an executive order to secure the financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary.
“This order faced challenges from state Governors in the Supreme Court.
“After resolving the legal complexities, the order was reaffirmed and the former president initiated a committee for its full implementation.
“This progress has stalled following transition of government,” he said.
Yusuf added that the association had patiently awaited progress on the government promises and gave it a 21-day ultimatum to address their concerns.
“Regrettably, no action was taken. Consequently, today, we have taken the step of indefinitely locking all State Assemblies, including the National Assembly, until our demands for full implementation are met,” he stated.
Yusuf emphasised that the association’s demands encompassed the implementation of CONCLESS conditions of service and the payment of parliamentary staff outfit allowances.
He said that the struggle was not solely for the benefit of the parliamentary staff, adding, “it is driven by a national interest in ensuring the government’s success in the fight against corruption.”