Nathaniel Zaccheaus
Angry staff of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission have said they would not negotiate with the management of the nation’s parliament over their salary arrears, allowances, and review except if their account was first credited.

The workers under the auspices of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria who embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday vowed that they would not call off the strike or engage in any conversation with the management of the National Assembly until they received payment of the arrears of their unpaid salaries and allowances.

The workers frustrated the movement in and out of the apex legislative institution by blocking the gate of the National Assembly complex.

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They refused to listen to the Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development of the National Assembly, Suraj Oladoyin, who came to address them on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Ojo.

Oladoyin tried to persuade the angry protesters about the need to sit at a table and discuss but they replied him with an uproar chanting, ” all we want are credit alerts,”

They also chorused that, “We are tired of talking.”

The Chairman of PASSAN, Sunday Sabiyi, tried to bring some calm to the situation.

He said the executives were also tired of the back and forth over the issue.

However, it was expedient that they listened to the voice of reasoning.

Sabiyi said, “We are all in this together and even the management would benefit from it. In fact, when the money is paid, they would get more money than us.

“You cannot be more tired than the executives of the association. We have been on this issue for over three years.

“This time, our request must be granted but we have to listen to them and have a dialogue.

” There must be room for negotiations in every agitation, so we would meet with them ( the management of NASS) and hear what they have to say.”

The protesters arrived at the National Assembly gate at 6 am and left around 5pm.

No member of staff was allowed into the complex while those who were not aware or interested in the planned protest, were turned back at the gate.

It was gathered that the water and the electricity at the NASS complex were also disconnected.

PASAN, in a statement said the association stated that the industrial action after three notices to the management led by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Ojo, within three weeks.

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The statement read in part, “The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, National Assembly Service Commission and National Assembly (chapters), at its joint congress meeting (sic) of 2nd June, 2022, resolved to embark on an indefinite strike over the failure of the National Assembly management to implement the subsisting MoU jointly signed by NASC and NASS management and PASAN on the 13th of April, 2021.”

The Clerk to the National Assembly, in his reaction through his media aide, Austin Adesoro said, “The management of the National Assembly note with dismay the resolve of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), to block the National Assembly gates despite all efforts to address the issues raised by the union.”

He said, “However, the management’s door is ever opened as it’s making efforts to get the union leaders for negotiation that will bring about harmony in our work place.”