IBADAN—FOLLOWING the expiration of the ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, for the implementation of financial autonomy in legislative houses in the country, PASAN staff in Oyo, Edo, Kano, Ondo and Ogun states, yesterday, commenced an indefinite strike and, consequently, shut gates leading into the Houses of assembly.
The workers, who were led by their chairman, Mr Yemi Alade, are seeking the implementation of financial autonomy for state legislatures, calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to comply with section 121 of the 1999 constitution . In a chat with newsmen, Chairman of PASAN in Edo State, Umaru Haruna said the national president of PASAN, Mr Mohammed Usman had directed all chairmen and Secretaries to mobilize her members for maximum compliance in the protest action yesterday.
“The union was patient for two years after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Financial Autonomy Act, but state governors have failed to implement it.On its part, members of PASAN in Ogun State, yesterday, joined other Assembly workers to embark on an indefinite strike to press home their demand for the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislatures.
“Clearly, the non-compliance with the laws has resulted in the non-payment of due salaries and allowances to the three bureaucratic staff of the legislature. As it stands today, the Clerk of the House, his Deputy and the Executive Secretary of the Commission are still being paid the salaries of Directors as against what is spelt out by the extant laws.
Speaking on the exclusion of the staff members of the state legislature from the 40% peculiar allowance paid to civil servants in the state commencing from August 2023, Ayotunde said: “It is disheartening that as much as we are affected by the adverse effect of the removal of fuel subsidy, such should be extended to members of staff in the House of Assembly and House of Assembly Service Commission. We are seriously affected by the hike in the price of petrol and market commodities.