National Assembly workers have threatened to begin an indefinite strike today over non-payment of arrears of salary and allowances.
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) made this known in a statement in Abuja.
However, the management described the proposed industrial action as a product of misrepresentation and assumption, saying all efforts are being made to avert the strike.
PASAN, in a statement by the Chairman of PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, Comrade Sunday Sabiyi and his National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) counterpart, Comrade Ojemeri Oisamaye, said the indefinite strike has become necessary, following the failure of the management of the National Assembly to keep to the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it entered with the workers on full payment of arrears of salary and allowances.
The statement reads: “Recall that the communique of the joint congress of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, NASC and NASS Chapters held on 28th March 2022 amongst other things, demanded the full implementation of the subsisting Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) jointly signed by the National Assembly Service, management of the National Assembly Service, and PASAN on the 13th of April, 2021 with the arrears for 2021 fiscal year paid to all categories of staff in the National Assembly Service not later than 31st May, 2022.
“Consequent upon the expiration of the deadline of 31st May 2022, the two chapters (NASC and NASS) of the Association held a Congress today (Thursday) 2nd June 2022 and resolved to embark on an indefinite strike commencing from 12 midnight on Sunday 5th June, 2022.”
In his reaction, the Special Adviser to the Clerk to the National Assembly on Media and Labour Matters, Austen Adesoro, described the proposed strike as uncalled for saying it was based on misrepresentation and assumption.
