Assembly workers begin indefinite strike in Oyo, Edo, Kano, Ogun, Ondo States

Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, in Oyo, Edo, Kano, Ondo and Ogun states have commenced an indefinite strike.

The industrial action which commenced yesterday, follows the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum given the FG by the association on Monday 18th September 2023, to implement Financial Autonomy for the State Legislatures as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The striking House of Assembly workers across the aforementioned states have reportedly shut gates leading into the Houses of assembly as they displayed placards with various inscriptions, to drive home their demands as well as the peculiar agitations of their various state chapters of the union.

In Oyo State, PASAN members are seeking the implementation of financial autonomy for state legislatures and calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to comply with section 121 (3a, 3b and 4a) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

They also want the implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structures, CONLESS, for staff of the Assembly and commission.

Speaking with newsmen, chairman of Oyo PASAN, Mr Yemi Alade, said the strike was indefinite and the blocking of gates will continue until their demands are met.

Also, the Edo State House of Assembly complex was shut, yesterday, as the members barricaded the gates to the assembly, thereby denying lawmakers from accessing the chambers.

The Edo State Chairman of PASAN Umaru Haruna said the national president of PASAN, Mr Mohammed Usman had directed all chairmen and Secretaries to mobilize her members for maximum compliance in the protest action yesterday.

Haruna said: “The issue of autonomy is a constitutional matter. You know it has been passed by the national Assembly and was assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“All we need is for the government to start implementation. But as we speak today, nothing has been done. The 36 states Houses of Assembly, you can call them rubber stamps because they are not on their feet simply because they are not on Autonomy. We are not just fighting for the staff of legislators, we are fighting to deepen the dividends of democracy for Nigerians. This is the struggle we are in.”

Similarly, in Kano State yesterday, PASAN staff had also joined the nationwide strike by shutting down the House of Assembly.

The Chairman of the association in the state, Bashir Yahaya, said the action became imperative to press home their demands.

Yahaya said: “We have joined the strike as directed by the national president of our association.

“The strike followed the expiration of an ultimatum the union gave to the government to implement financial autonomy for the legislature.

“The union was patient for two years after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Financial Autonomy Act, but state governors have failed to implement it.

“The state Assembly would remain closed until there is a further directive from our national body,” Yahaya said.

On its part, the Ogun State, of the association through it’s chairman, Ojediran Ayotunde who led other executives to address the group’s emergency congress at the Assembly complex, Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta, noted that the action was in strict compliance with the directive of the national secretariat.

Ayotunde said: “For us in Ogun State, this strike was targeted at ensuring financial autonomy for state legislatures nationwide.

“Clearly, the non-compliance with the laws has resulted in the non-payment of due salaries and allowances to the three bureaucratic staff of the legislature. As it stands today, the Clerk of the House, his Deputy and the Executive Secretary of the Commission are still being paid the salaries of Directors as against what is spelt out by the extant laws.

“In the previous week, we have communicated this position of ours to the state government in follow up to the laudable efforts of the leadership of the House, the House of Assembly Service Commission and respected elders of thoughts.

“Some months ago, the National Delegate Congress of our union held its meeting in Abuja and a communique was issued and sent to the state with copies sent to necessary stakeholders on the non-payment of the officials’ due salaries, how long shall we continue with this illegality in Ogun State?”

Speaking on the exclusion of the staff members of the state legislature from the 40% peculiar allowance paid to civil servants in the state commencing from August 2023, Ayotunde said: “It is disheartening that as much as we are affected by the adverse effect of the removal of fuel subsidy, such should be extended to members of staff in the House of Assembly and House of Assembly Service Commission. We are seriously affected by the hike in the price of petrol and market commodities.”

Also, the Ondo State, chapter had reportedly staged a peaceful walk at the Assembly, displaying placards with various inscriptions and chanting solidarity songs.

The state chairman of PASAN, Mrs. Omolola Olufemi, said that financial autonomy is crucial to the growth of the legislature adding that the association had given the government enough time to implement the financial autonomy following the suspension of the strike two years ago.

She said, “You could recall that the bedrock of parliamentary autonomy hinges on financial independence. Autonomy in this context is simply defined as non-dependence and non-subordination of parliaments about the executive.“

“The Parliaments should have equitable access to resources. As such, parliaments by constitutional arrangements are supposed to have enough financial muscle to carry out their legislative mandate, including exercising power over the budget.”

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