Workers of both the national and 36 state assemblies have announced their plans to temporarily halt their operations starting from Wednesday, October 24.
This collective action, organized under the banner of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), involves the sealing of assembly premises until their fundamental demand for financial autonomy is met.
PASAN is adamantly advocating for the immediate initiation of financial autonomy for state assemblies by the 36 governors in accordance with the provisions outlined in the 1999 Constitution.
To underscore the seriousness of their stance, the workers formally communicated their intentions in separate letters dispatched to the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of the Forum of Speakers.
These letters, signed by the acting Secretary General of PASAN, Agugbue Ugochi Happiness, revealed that the workers had earlier issued a 21-day strike notice.
Their decision to suspend the functions of legislative branches within the government stems from the governors’ apparent inability to execute the required financial autonomy as enshrined in the constitution.
Happiness, speaking to journalists on Monday, highlighted that the union had issued the ultimatum on September 18, 2023, but the governors had failed to respond or take action, leading to the ultimatum’s expiration. As a result, the workers are poised to take this significant step in the ongoing struggle to secure financial independence for legislative assemblies at both the national and state levels.
“We refer to our letters dated 18th September, 2023, and October 7, 2023, on 21 days ultimatum to embark on industrial action if financial autonomy is not implemented in the State Houses of Assembly nationwide by Wednesday, October 18th 2023 and hereby inform you that the leadership of our great union has further extended the ultimatum by one week.
“We, therefore, hope that the extension would further avail ample opportunity to meet the demands of the union and avert the available industrial action.
“We hereby reiterate the union’s preparedness to direct the members to embark on the proposed strike action if its demands are not yielded to,” the letter partly read.