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The indefinite strike action embarked upon by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Abia State Chapter, recorded full compliance on Tuesday as the entrance to the Assembly Complex was under lock and key.
Recall that members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Abia State Chapter on Monday, began an indefinite strike, following the expiration of their 7 days ultimatum to the State government.
The strike, according to the PASAN members, is a result of Abia State government’s alleged failure to implement the financial autonomy for parliamentary workers in the state.
When Southeastposts visited the vicinity of the Assembly on Tuesday morning to monitor compliance, the entrance leading to the Assembly complex was under lock and key with few people clustering at the gate.
Further investigation revealed that the Assembly Lawmakers who were expected to reconvene today, having adjourned plenary to today after their seating last week Tuesday, were not seen on ground.
A Staff of the Assembly who pleaded anonymity, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance recorded, stressing that the strike action is already recording success, but called on the State Government and the leadership of PASAN to enter into genuine negotiations with a view to responding to the prayers of the Parliamentary Staff.
On how the strike has affected him, he revealed that he has always approached his job with every sense of enthusiasm, maintaining that if the strike action is called off today, he would not hesitate to go back to work immediately.
Speaking to Southeastposts on phone, Abia State Chairman of PASAN, Sunday Kalu maintained that the Industrial action is not his idea, insisting that the chapter obtained necessary approval from the national leadership of PASSAN before commencing the industrial action.
He informed that the action was further necessitated by the failure of the Executive arm of the State to look into their issues which hinges on non-implementation of Financial Autonomy, Consolidated Legislative Structure, CONLESS and Administrative Autonomy.
Kalu said for now, the State Government has not opened the door for negotiations, emphasizing that for now, the Association will go ahead with the industrial action, pending when negotiations will commence.
Role of Lawmakers in Averting the Industrial Action
Responding to efforts made by the Lawmakers to avert the PASAN strike, Sunday Kalu said before now, the Union wrote various letters to the Lawmakers, appealing to them to use their good offices to avert the impending strike action, stressing that their efforts did not materialise, hence they embarked on the action.
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