The attempt by Senate President Bukola Saraki to address the protesting National Assembly workers was on Tuesday met with resistance, as the workers chant “no pay no sitting.”
Amid the chants however, the Senate President pleaded with the protesters to allow for a meeting between the leadership of the National Assembly and the management of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to resolve the issues.
“As leadership of the Senate, we do not have to know the possibility of what is going to be paid now. What I am committing to you is to send message to the management that we must find money immediately to ensure implementation of CONLESS.
“Let me make a commitment on behalf of the entire leadership of the National Assembly that we are all on the same side. It is our interest to be sure of good and mental condition of service and better working environment and we are fully committed to this.
“We will work tirelessly to make sure the conditions you have listed are met. As the leadership of the National Assembly, the responsibility lies on us to address these,” he said.
Staff members of the National Assembly earlier on Tuesday protested what they described as unpaid wages and lack of due promotion.
Some of the workers claimed they are being owed wages from as far back as 2010. They also alleged that funds meant for training had been diverted, demanding the implementation of Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), enforcement of promotion and training of staff.
The management of the National Assembly in response said 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.
