Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Anambra State chapter, has accused the State House of Assembly of conducting illegal sittings and recruiting members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to perform the functions of the statutory staff of the Assembly.
The accusations came during a peaceful protest that followed PASAN demands for improved welfare of its members in the House of Assembly as obtained in other states.
PASAN during the protest carried placards and banners to the Assembly gate and the State Secretariat chanting protest songs demanding for their entitlements.
The Deputy National President of PASAN, Comrade Promise Onwukwe, during the protest said that they embarked on the protest because of the insensitivity of the lawmakers to staff of the state assembly.
According to him, Anambra State House of Assembly has failed in its responsibilities to workers.
“We are talking about the payment of enhanced salary called CONYLESS, we are talking about staff training, we are talking about provision of laptops, we are talking about establishment of ICT unit, we are talking about employment of more staff, utility vehicles for the Assembly.
“You go to collect or submit mails and you will be trekking from one office to the other under the sun while those that you are working for are cruising in air conditioned vehicles.
“It might not be far from the truth that Governor Charles Soludo may have provided all these things but they are no where to be found and this is unfortunate.
“Go round the Assembly compound and you will see that it has been over grown by grasses and staff of the Assembly kill all manner of reptiles, snakes and scorpions almost every week and that shows that this place is not conducive to work,” he said.
He said Anambra State House of Assembly is conducting illegal sitting without the staff of the house.
“The lawmakers think only about themselves and treating others staff as slaves. We don’t enjoy all the salaries and allowances as the other states do. What they only give to us is the N1000 outfit allowance.
“The legislative arm of Anambra State Government has failed us . The Honourable members talk about their welfare and neglecting their staff. They also barred staff from adminstration of duty in the state. They are borrowing corps members to work with in the house,” he said.
Addressing newsmen, chairman of Anambra State PASAN, Comrade Okoye Abraham, said initially, the house had only three corps members and immediately they (PASAN) commenced strike, they got more corps members to replace them.
“We had only three corps members deployed to the house and for the house to sit, it must have 15 of us and instead of them addressing our problem they decided to get more corps members to carry out the business of the house,” he said.
Speaking to journalists, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Ikenna Ofodeme Sylvester, dismissed their claims accusing them of disrupting the activities of the legislature.
“It is only the Anambra State PASAN that is on strike and they are not on strike because their statutory payment are not being paid. They are on strike because they are talking about their welfare which has to do with their allowances and what are the allowances for?
“It has to do with the internal payment which you need to settle based on the status or the area that you are working.
“In as much as you are asking for allowance you need to be in the compound where you are working so that we can have the opportunity to know exactly what you are doing and your number and take decisions on what is needed and render the services expected of them.
“To crown it all, this is Anambra State House of Assembly and most of those staff are strictly under the office of the Head Of Service and they are posted to come and work with the state Assembly members.”
