Delta Assembly Workers Strike Over Unpaid Salaries
The Delta State House Of Assembly workers, under the orgies of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria on Wednesday, closed down the State House Assembly indefinitely over non-payment of approved salaries and non-funding of the clinic and other Sundry issues.
The striking workers shut down activities of the House, and locked out the Speaker and other lawmakers, preventing them access to the Assembly for legislative business.
The workers expressed disappointment that up till now, payment for the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), about three years after, was not approved nor regularised causal staff, training of staff and other entitlements.
The workers after a meeting on Tuesday expressed displeasure over what they called “delay tactics and ploy” to deprive them of their entitlements, saying it was a sign that the leadership of the Assembly and government lack the political will to do the needful.
This was disclosed in a communique issued to the Speaker, and signed by the state chairman of PASAN, Emmanuel Edozie and secretary, Emmanuel Osubor, coping all directors, national Presidents of PASAN, commissioner of police, Delta state, Director, DSS and chairman, NLC, Delta State.
They recalled that at a time, the Congress had suspended its earlier strike action scheduled for 28, February, this year, but for the intervention of the Conference of speakers and the Nigerian governors’ forum to allow for full implementation of financial autonomy/payment.
“The two weeks appeal given to us by the speaker to allow committee set up by His Excellency, 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.
“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. Congress views these delay tactics as a ploy to deprive staff of their entitlements and a sign that they lack the political will to pay.
“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, and regularisation of casual staff among others are yet to be addressed or given attention after two months.
“Congress have exercised enough patience, restraint given in the face of the harsh economic downturn, understanding with the speaker and the committee set up by His Excellency the executive governor of Delta state and our patience has run thin,” the communique read.
