From Kemi Yesufu
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) on Tuesday disrupted legislative activities in both chambers of the National Assembly over unpaid salary arrears and allowances.
The protesting workers chased out lawmakers who tried getting into the White House Complex where both chambers are located.
They even stationed staff with placards to create a human barrier at the main entrance of the Green and Red Chamber.
The angry workers rejected the plea for more time by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to meet with the management of the National Assembly.
PASAN members chanted, ‘no alert, no sitting’, intemitedly as Saraki pleaded for time and that both chambers be allowed to sit for today.
Frontline News Online gathered that the Senate President, who was accompanied by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Yakubu Dogara, to speak withe protesters resorted to speaking with the staff after trying the numbers of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori and they were all unavailable.
Saraki had asked PASAN members to give him up till Friday to resolve the issues they has raised, but his suggestion was stoutly rejected, with louder chants of ‘no alert, no sitting’.
Senate Leader Sen. Ahmed Lawan and Majority Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabimaile later addressed the press after the union members had dispersed at about 2.15pm, also pleading for understanding.
Lawan said lawmakers would sit on Wednesday having secured the understanding of the union that issues raised by aggrieved staff can only be discussed at plenary.
Hours before the leadership the National Assembly intervened, lawmakers were barred from assessing the chambers by the union members who insist that the picketing of the chambers will run from Tuesday to Thursday December 6.
The grievances they listed are namely the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) which they claim the National Assembly management have refused to implement.
Other grievances include release of pending staff promotions previously conducted as well as release of 2018/list of eligible promotion cases on or before December 2018.
The union has accordingly given the National Assembly management a two week ultimatum to meet its demands or face industrial action.
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