The leadership of the Abis State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria. PASAN, has dismissed the ultimatum issued by the NLC over staff posting at the Abia State House of Assembly, saying the NLC was not authorized to speak on behalf of parliamentary union.
Recall that the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abia State council, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, called on the Head of Service, Mr Benson Ojeikere, to reverse the transfer of the state PASAN Chairman, Mr Sunday Kalu; and his Secretary, Mr Ucheka Ugochukwu, out of the Abia State Assembly.
Ogbonnaya had given a seven-day ultimatum to reverse the transfer of the PASAN officials and implement the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure
(CONLESS) salary structure, warning of a three-day warning strike if the demands are not met.
The NLC leader observed that the transfer was suspicious and had stemmed from the government’s failure to implement the CONLESS salary structure for parliamentary staff as requested by PASAN’s National Executive Council in October 2024 following the rollout of the new minimum wage.
He had said, “CONLESS is a consolidated salary structure, similar to CONMESS for health workers and TSS for teachers, that bundles allowances into the basic salary.
“PASAN formally notified the state government and the NLC Abia Council after the October NEC meeting, but the government reneged on its agreement.
“Tensions escalated when PASAN joined a nationwide action to shut the gates of the Abia State House of Assembly.
“The Deputy Speaker Hon Austin Meregini and others broke the NLC chain used to lock the gate. The council told the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly that the chain cost two million and is specially fabricated by NLC-accredited blacksmiths in Abuja.
“Shortly after this, the government began posting out PASAN members, including the State Chairman and Secretary, from the House of Assembly. The council describes the transfers as a violation of Civil Service rules and the edict establishing the Assembly Commission.
“The three arms of government have operational autonomy and their own commissions. Staff matters must be decided by the relevant commission, not by the state government. The House of Assembly is a ‘closed shop’ where only PASAN operates. Transferring elected PASAN officers to other MDAs effectively removes them from office,” he said.
However PASAN in a statement said all Assembly staff affected by the Abia State Public Service posting have resumed at their new Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The statement, which was signed by Comrade Anthony Nwaobilor, acting Chairman, and Comrade Adiele Loveday, Public Relations Officer, said PASAN already have new leadership, which is in “an advanced stage” of negotiations with the Abia State Government on the CONLESS for Assembly staff.
The statement added, “The public is hereby urged to disregard the public announcement and the ultimatum given by the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abia State chapter as they were not authorised by the leadership of PASAN, Abia State chapter.”
