The National Assembly leadership has said it is making frantic efforts
to avert the proposed industrial action by workers under the umbrella of
Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), which is likely to
affect the 2019 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari on
Wednesday.
In a telephone chat with Akelicious on what the
National Assembly is doing to avert the proposed strike, the Chairman,
House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon
Abdulrazak Namdas, said efforts are already ongoing to prevent the
planned strike scheduled today.
“We will appeal to them. We
have started reaching out to them. At least every one of them knows that
we are following up their matter. We laid their report in the House. It
was considered; we invited the Minister of Finance to see why money was
not released to pay them their increment and the report is to be
presented at the plenary on Tuesday.
“So, if you block us from entering on Tuesday, how do we solve the problem? So, we will consult with them?” He queried.
Namdas
added that the lawmakers have been intervening in the matter and are
still committed to following through, regretting that should the strike
go as planned; it will only complicate the matter.
“What we are
appealing for now is for the workers to continue to be very
understanding. The budget is to be presented by Wednesday; we all know
the possible implication on the entirety of Nigerians, if the document
is not presented on that day.
“Our appeal is that since we are
still very much on the issue and engaging the critical stakeholders. The
workers should reconsider their stand and let the engagement continue
for a quick resolution,” he appealed.
However, PASAN chairman,
Bature told THISDAY that the strike action will go on as proposed,
saying no member of the National Assembly leadership had called to
prevail on them not to proceed on the strike.
“I have not been
contacted by anybody as far as the leadership is concerned, so the
strike will still continue tomorrow (today) as planned.”
But he
assured that unlike the December 4 picketing where they prevented
lawmakers from accessing the legislative chambers, the lawmakers will
have access to the chambers.
He added that workers have already been mobilised to stay off duty between December 17 and 20.
On
whether or not the strike would affect the proposed presentation of the
2019 budget, Bature noted that “It is the members of PASAN who are not
working. Our members will not be around to work. They will not work for
the legislators and they will not work for the management, and
legislators can come. And I am sure the president is not coming to lay
the budget before staff, he is coming to lay the budget before the
legislators”.
“It may partly affect budget presentation because
some of our workers who carry the maze may not be readily available to
do that and if that happens, that
may impact their sitting arrangements.
“Sitting
will be illegitimate as far as we are concerned; so invariably it will
affect their activities definitely. Unless if those staff that are the
Sergeants-at-Arm want to come,” he said.
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