BEVERLY HILLS, CA, November 24, (THEWILL) – The support staff of the House of Representatives are threatening to go on strike if the management fails to settle their N66 million unpaid allowances.
The allowances had been due for payment since 2011.
THEWILL gathered in Abuja that the aggrieved staff have perfected their plan to disrupt activities at the National Assembly this week until the allowances are sorted out.
One of the support staff who gave his name simply as Mr. John told our correspondent that some support workers who actively participated in the election of Hon. Bethel Amadi, who is presently a member of Pan African Parliament (PAP), in 2011 in South Africa are yet to be paid.
However in one of the letters obtained by TheWILL dated 14 February, 2012 with reference N0 HR/PAP/03/4 and addressed to the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Amadi had appealed for the payment of the outstanding N66,573,510.00million.
He said “We have written several letters to management giving the various breakdown of the payments but to no avail. ”
“This is just one out of the several non-payment of approved allowances in the last two years.
“Most of these payments were approved by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal but management refused to effect payment.”
Another source said “we wanted to display placards on November 12, the first time we were expecting Mr. President to deliver the 2014 budget but management quickly set up a welfare committee.
“Two weeks after, we’ve not heard from the committee but before this week runs to an end, if we do not hear from the committee, then we shall embark on strike.
“There are other issues we will expose in this wing of the chamber because our colleagues in the Senate are not treated this way.
“They pay them promptly unlike here that you have to beg to get anything done. ”
By Saint Mugaga, Abuja
About the Author
