JUST IN: Disorder in the Legislative as aides, protest over unpaid salaries

A thread https://asphericnews.com/2021/04/13/just-in-disorder-in-the-legislative-as-aides-protest-over-unpaid-salaries/

The aides who marched into the lobby of the National Assembly lifting placards with various inscriptions, accused the Clerk to the National Assembly, Arc Olatunde Ojo of failure to pay their salary arrears, implement Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), minimum…

…wage, Duty Tour Allowances (DTA), lack of training and Conditions of Service.

 The angry protesters on sighting the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was on his way to the Chamber, started singing solidarity songs.

Gbajabiamila seeing the protesters stopped and demanded to hear from their leaders. Mr. Zebis Prince, who represents the South-South geopolitical zone of the group, told the Speaker that the aides want the CNA to meet their demands.

The demands were presented to him by the Chairman, National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF), Comrade Salisu Zuru. Gbajabimila, receiving the letter of demand, said it is inexcusable not to pay workers’ arrears dating back to 2019.

‘’I believe that every labourer should be paid his wages. We are looking into it. While these things can be protracted, not paying wages of 2019 is inexcusable. We will look into it. I will just ask that you be patient. We plead for your understanding.

We know there are financial constraints but one thing I know is this will be resolved amicably and your arrears will be paid. We appreciate you for bringing these demands to our attention and we will attend to it accordingly. “He said

Speaking to the members of the press shortly after, the Chairman National Assembly legislative aides, Mr Stanley Ugwu confessed that the bone of contention is the negligence to fulfilling salary areas payment promises

”We engaged them on administrative processes up till a point of getting a resolution to investigate the non-payment of the 2019 salary arrears, which the House of Representatives set up a committee, they sat and conducted its activities and report was laid and adopted by the…

…House. Since the report has been accepted at the plenary, the management has not deemed it fit to make the payments.

The quarterly training for the aides has not been done as well and if aides are not trained the quality of the legislation you will have here will be low.” He said

Meanwhile, parliamentary workers have vowed to embark on strike on Wednesday (14th April) if the Management of National Assembly fails to meet its demand.

This was disclosed in a joint communique issued at the end of the PASAN Congress held at Conference Room 28 of the House of Representatives in the New Wing of the National Assembly.

The Association, in the communique signed by Comrade Sunday Sabiyyi (Chairman, NASS chapter) and Comrade Oisamaye Ojemeri (Chairman, NASC chapter) asked the Management of National Assembly to implement the minimum wage/consequential adjustment and the financial provisions in…

…their conditions of service. The Association also disapproved of the proposal of the Management of National Assembly on the implementation of an insignificant aspect of their demands. Speaking at the plenary, the Speaker

This thread can be read here: https://asphericnews.com/2021/04/13/just-in-disorder-in-the-legislative-as-aides-protest-over-unpaid-salaries/