House Of Assembly Workers Embark On Indefinite Strike In Delta

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), representing the staff of the Delta State House of Assembly, has initiated an indefinite strike. This decision comes in response to various grievances, including inadequate funding for the Assembly clinic and several other pressing concerns…….CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Key issues highlighted by the striking workers include:

1. Non-Approval and Non-Payment of CONLESS: The Staff Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) has been pending for nearly three years, prompting significant dissatisfaction among the assembly staff.
2. Regularization of Casual Staff: Workers are calling for the proper employment status and benefits for casual staff members.
3. Staff Training and Other Entitlements: The lack of staff training opportunities and the failure to address other entitlements have been cited as major points of contention.

The strike commenced at 12 am on Wednesday, leading to the closure of the Assembly entrance gate and the Speaker’s office, effectively halting official business.

In a statement released following the association’s meeting on Tuesday at the Assembly complex, workers expressed their frustration over the prolonged delay in receiving their rightful payments. They viewed this delay as a deliberate tactic by the Assembly’s leadership and the government to deny them their entitlements, indicating a lack of political will to address their concerns.

The statement, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, was signed by Emmanuel Edozie, the state chairman of PASAN, and Emmanuel Osubor, the secretary. It was also copied to various officials, including directors, national presidents of PASAN, the commissioner of police for Delta State, the Director of the DSS, and the chairman of the NLC for Delta State.

The communique highlighted that the Congress had previously suspended a planned strike on February 28, 2024, following the intervention of the Conference of Speakers and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. This suspension was intended to allow for the full implementation of financial autonomy, the payment of CONLESS, the establishment of the House of Assembly Service Commission in states that had not yet passed the required legislation, and other matters affecting the legislature.

The document stated, “The two weeks appeal given to us by the speaker to allow the committee set up by His Excellency, the governor of Delta state, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to work out modalities of payment of CONLESS to staff have since elapsed without any substantial progress.

“Congress frowns that after the said committee has been given more than two months to work to fulfil its mandate of payment of CONLESS, it is yet to come up with a decision. Congress views these delay tactics as a ploy to deprive staff of their entitlements and a sign that they lack the political will to pay.

“Congress also expresses its displeasure that the other issues raised at the meeting of March 28, 2024, bothering on training, funding of the DTHA clinic, and regularization of casual staff, among others, are yet to be addressed or given attention after two months.

“Congress has exercised enough patience and restraint given the harsh economic conditions, understanding with the speaker and the committee set up by His Excellency, the executive governor of Delta state, and our patience has run thin. Arising from the above, Congress do now resolve to resume the suspended industrial action effective 12:00 am Wednesday, May 29, 2024, indefinitely. Congress resolves that the resumed strike action will only be suspended in the event that approval and subsequent payment of CONLESS to staff and other issues enumerated above are addressed.”

This strike highlights the ongoing struggles of assembly staff in Delta State and underscores the critical need for responsive and timely actions from the government to address their legitimate demands.

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