By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has summoned the leadership of the National Assembly chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and some aggrieved members over a fraud allegation they levelled against their executive.
The ministry, through the Registrar, Department of Trade Union Services And Industrial Relations, had invited the PASAN leaders and the aggrieved members to a meeting on Tuesday, October 28 (tomorrow)
A member of PASAN, Yusuf Abiola, held a press conference in Abuja early this month and accused the union executive of misappropriation of funds.
Abiola, who spoke on behalf of the concerned members of PASAN, said that the leadership of PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, allegedly misappropriated N3bn union funds.
He demanded the executive’s audited financial statements and operational reports from 2019 to the present and vowed to petition relevant authorities to seek redress.
But in his reaction to the allegation, the Chairman of PASAN at the National Assembly, Sunday Sabiyyi, in a statement jointly signed with the Secretary, David Ann Ebizimoh, described it as baseless, frivolous, and defamatory.
Sabiyyi called on members of the union and the general public to disregard what he described as “unfounded blackmail intended to distract the union from pursuing its mandate coherently to the letter.”
However, the Labour Ministry, in its letter of invitation dated October 25, 2024, with reference number FMLE/TU/136/111/82, summoned the warring parties through a letter addressed to the General Secretary, National Assembly chapter of PASAN.
The invitation letter was titled, “Re: Petition Against the Misappropriation of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) National Assembly Chapter and Threats of Suspension of Members (sic)”
The Director/Registrar of Trade Unions, Amos Falonipe Amos, signed it on behalf of the Minister.
It read in part, “I am directed to refer to your letter dated 18th October 2024, on the above subject from the concerned members of PASAN National Assembly Chapter and to invite you to a meeting Scheduled as follows: Date: 29th October 2024; Time: 11am; Venue: Minister’s Conference Hall, Federal Ministry of Labour And Employment, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.
“Given the importance of the meeting, you are required to inform all the warring parties accordingly. Accept the warm regards of the Honourable Minister.”