By Kassim Omomia
National Assembly workers this morning walked-out on their boss and Clerk to the National Assembly, Architect Amos Ojo, over poor working conditions.
The ugly incident took place at the Annex, where the CNA, who was full of excitement was to commission two- 34-seater coaster welfare buses for the staff.
All was set, with a red carpet and tape in preparation for the commissioning of the buses in the presence of the mandate secretaries, the equivalent of Permanent secretaries who are heads of the various departments, where the workers declined to show up.
The excited CNA, who was full of enthusiasm before the event, suddenly developed cold feet when it dawned on him and management team that the event had been botched.
One of the union leaders of parliamentary staff association, National Assembly Chapter, the umbrella body of the workers’ union, told ThisNigeria, that what they wanted was the implementation of the minimum wage and improved condition of service and not welfare buses that can also not go round the workers, considering their various routes.
The official said that for too long, the management had undermined the capacity of the workers to grind parliamentary activities to a halt.
According to the union leader, Management has initially enjoyed a- 21-day ultimatum which had lapsed, with another 14-day- grace which will end on the 31st of this month March.
“We will further give another seven days, failing, which the workers will embark on full scale strike” the official explained.
Recall also that the House of Representatives recently called on the management to pay legislatives aides all allowances owed and due to them.
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It followed a report by the House Services Committee which uncovered various sums owed the legislatives aides from budgetary approvals and allocations.
However, efforts to get comments from the CNA, through his special adviser on media and labour matters, Austen Adesoro, failed as he declined to comment on the matter.
