No Alert, No sitting— NASS Workers
It was like a scene in a movie. The signs were not manifested on Monday when some federal legislators that came to the National Assembly to prepare for the legislative week left the National Assembly Complex. But the unexpected happened! The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria ,PASSAN, National Assembly branch, last Tuesday embarked on picketing and strike at the National Assembly over the non payment of their outstanding salaries and allowances.
The clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Sani Omolori expressed concern that PASAN did not exhaust all options before threatening to embark on strike adding; “your determination to embark on industrial action by all means without exhausting the options available to you is uncalled for”.
He therefore requested PASAN to immediately call off the proposed picketing and strike and continue to engage management of the National Assembly on all issues raised.
His pleas was like pouring tonnes of water on the back of a calabash that was turned upside down. It fell on deaf ears as officials and members of PASSAN ignore the pleading and carried out the threat by shutting down the two chambers of the National Assembly and denied legislators from sitting
The workers gathered in large numbers and armed with placards with different inscriptions started singing ” no alert no sitting”and laced it with revolutionary songs. Not even the presence of the Deputy Senate President, Sen Ike Ekweremadu could . All attempts to calm down the protesters were rebuffed.
The angry protesters who did not allow the legislators move near the chambers sat at the entrances as nobody opened the door that led to the chambers saying that the management owed them over three years allowances adding that the Staff have not been sent for training for over eight years.
One of the protesters Mrs Vivian Ozolua reporters that the Management had not paid their allowances in the past three years and vowed to ensure that there would be no sitting in both Chambers and there would be no work until they get alert from their banks.
Security agents drafted to the National Assembly ,particularly men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force and State Security Services, (SSS) to prevent what a worried Senator described as an “embarrassment”, were frustrated by the protesters.
To calm frayed nerves, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara in company with some of the leadership of the National Assembly came to address and plead with the angry workers . It was a poor attempt at solving the challenge as workers started chanting” No ! “” No!”
However, when the situation became chaotic , Senate President Saraki, Speaker Dogara and other principal officers went back to an office and came back later with the Senate leader,Senator Ahmed Lawan and the leader of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila
Both Lawan and Gbajabiamila were given the time to address workers and senate leader who addressed the workers assured that the National Assembly will ensure that the 10 percent increment in the emoluments of protesting workers of the legislative institution agreed by both parties was implemented totally.
He said that the protest by members of PASAN at the National Assembly is not about the legislators but was targeted at the management of the institution.
Lawan who said that the legislators are also looking into the issue of condition of service of the protesting workers appealed to the protesters that they should not stop the plenary of the lawmakers from taking place and added that their only interest is to ensure a conducive atmosphere for sitting to hold at both chambers of the legislature.
The lawmaker further assured that the they would ensure that legislative staff are well trained and well catered for by the institution.
