Delta State House of Assembly workers, united under the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, took a bold stance on Wednesday, indefinitely shutting down the Assembly complex in protest of unpaid approved salaries and other long-standing grievances.
Striking workers shut down House, lock out Speaker and lawmakers, and block access to Assembly, halting legislative business.
The workers voiced their frustration and dismay that, is spite of three long years of waiting, the payment for the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure remains unapproved.
They also lamented the non-regularisation of casual staff and non-approval of training for staff among other entitlements.
The workers, after an enlarged meeting on Tuesday, expressed displeasure over what they called “delay tactics and ploy” to deprive them of their entitlements.
A communique signed by the state chairman of PASAN, Emmanuel Edozie and secretary, Emmanuel Osubor, was copied to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, all directors, national president of PASAN, Delta State Commissioner of Police, Director, DSS and the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Delta State.
The workers said they suspended the earlier strike scheduled for February 28 this year due to the intervention of the Conference of Speakers and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, to allow for full implementation of financial autonomy/payment.
“The two weeks given to us by the Speaker to allow the committee set up by 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.
“The 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.
“The congress views these delay tactics as a ploy to deprive staff their entitlements and a sign that they lack the political will to pay.
“The 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, regularisation of casual staff, among others, are yet to be addressed or given attention after two months.
“The congress has exercised enough patience and restraint in the face of the harsh economic downturn, understanding with the speaker and the committee set up by the Executive Governor of Delta State and our patience has run thin,” the communique read.
