BEVERLY HILLS, December 04, (THEWILL) – Hundreds of staff of the National Assembly on Tuesday shut lawmakers out of the compound to demand payment of their owed entitlements.
The workers, under the umbrella of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, who were chanting songs, blocked the entrance of both chambers of the National Assembly.
They protested what they said is unpaid wages and lack of due promotion as some of the workers claim they are being owed wages from as far back as 2010 also alleging that funds meant for training had been diverted.
Carrying banners and placards, some of the workers were heard chanting “no pay, no sitting”.
The workers, who are protesting inside the National Assembly also blocked the entrance into the legislative chambers.
When the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, arrived at the Assembly, he was prevented from going into the Senate chamber with the workers chanting “no sitting” and prevented him from addressing them.
Meanwhile, the management of the National Assembly says all the issues raised by the workers are being addressed. In a letter signed by the clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the management promised to engage the workers on all the issues they had raised.
“The management of the national assembly under my watch has established an open channel for interfacing with PASAN (Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria) to utilise this channel always and reciprocate this gesture,” the letter read in part.
Omolori denied the allegation that workers’ promotion letters are being withheld by the management but merely investigating breaches to established guidelines for promotion, upgrading and conversion of officers.
He added that promotion to the next salary grade level and rank is a privilege for deserving staff who have fulfilled all conditions per cent.
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