Oct. 30, 2023

Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Nasarawa and Sokoto Chapters have shut down the state legislature to press home their demand for financial autonomy of the assembly.

Their action is in compliance with a nationwide strike ordered by the national body of the association.

The workers are demanding for financial autonomy of state legislatures across the country.

Mr. Suleiman Oshafu, the Chairman of the union, stated this while briefing newsmen on Monday in Lafia.

Oshafu said that the strike is total while urging the state governors to do the needful by implementing financial autonomy for State Houses of Assembly.

“We are here today to embark on strike over financial autonomy for the State Houses of Assembly.

“As financial autonomy will promote accountability, transparency and good governance in the country,” the chairman said.

Oshafu recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari signed an Executive Order granting the financial autonomy of the state assemblies in 2020.

“What we want from the Government is that all state legislature must be granted financial autonomy.

“This strike is nationwide, is indefinite strike,” he said.

He urged members of the association to stay at home until further directive from the national leadership of the association.

“I call on all PASAN members to comply with the strike and be law abiding,” he said.

Meanwhile members of the Sokoto State Chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) also joined their counterparts nationwide as they embarked on an indefinite strike, shutting down the State House of Assembly complex.

Its Chairman, Mr. Abubakar Yusuf, while addressing newsmen in Sokoto explained that the strike was an extension of their ongoing struggle that began in 2020.

Yusuf emphasised that the association’s demands encompassed the implementation of CONCLESS conditions of service and the payment of parliamentary staff outfit allowances.

He said that the struggle was not solely for the benefit of the parliamentary staff, adding, “it is driven by a national interest in ensuring the government’s success in the fight against corruption.” 

Members of the association carried different placards reading: “No going back on financial autonomy”; “Financial autonomy is constitutionally guaranteed”; “Give us our financial autonomy now”; “No Autonomy, no legislator and no work”; and “Autonomy the only solution to vibrant legislation”, among others.  (NAN)