Civil servants under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), yesterday make good their threat as they cut off electricity and water supply in the National Assembly complex to begin their four-day warning strike.
The workers, who stormed the National Assembly as early as 6:30 a.m., barricaded all entrances into the complex to continue their demand, pressing for payment of their outstanding salary arrears, allowances and other welfare packages.
The Assembly staffs want a 28 per cent increase in their salaries under CONLESS approved since 2010.
Recall that the aggrieved workers had, two weeks ago, shut down the National Assembly, preventing lawmakers from sitting; blaming the Management of the National Assembly for their plight and insisting on the removal of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Omolori.
Though the aggrieved workers initially prevented other people providing essential services such as journalists, bankers, food vendors etc. from accessing the complex, but as from 10:30a.m., they allowed everyone unfettered access into the complex.
The striking staff who sang solidarity songs were civil in their approach just as security personnel, including the police and Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, kept vigil at the development.
However, the absence of electricity and water in the complex forced lawmakers and other workers who found their way to their offices to hurriedly vacate and leave for their homes.
Everywhere was overtaken by darkness and the lifts were not working.
Some of the workers who spoke to our correspondent said that the strike was deliberately made to coincide with the budget presentation to attract the attention of the Federal Government and for greater impact.
PASAN had, through a statement by its National Assembly chairman, Comrade Musa Bature Muhammad, on December 14, issued the notice for the proposed four-day warning strike, and is expected to last till Thursday.
Speaking to journalists at the entrance to the National Assembly, national president of PASAN, Comrade Bala Hadi, said that only staff of the National Assembly were advised not to go to their duty posts.
He explained that the lawmakers and their staff were not prevented from entering their offices and chambers within the period of the strike, but that they would not receive services from the Assembly staff.
The PASAN National president said that the Union has deviced many strategies to ensure the success of the strike.
Also, commenting on the strike action, secretary of the National Assembly branch of PASAN, Comrade Suleiman Haruna said the four-day warning strike will continue until the union extracts a commitment from the management on the payment of their benefits.
An unnamed staff of the works department told New Telegraph that they had to cut off electricity and water supply because the management was trying to be smart.
“When we came this morning, we discovered that they were busy working on the notice paper and order paper for tomorrow’s (Tuesday) plenary. So, when we discovered that, we decided to disrupt power supply and water.
“It means they are not concerned about our plight and the demands we are making. We are protesting, but the management is trying to be smart, dividing and using our members to work for them. But now that we have cut off both light and water, we will see what they can do.”
Meanwhile, the leadership of the National Assembly has directed the Police and the DSS to ensure adequate security within the vicinity of the National Assembly from today to enable members and staff come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hinderance.
The directive was passed after a meeting of the joint leadership of the two chambers with the management and representatives of the security agencies.
“If the President Buhari is unable to present the budget proposal on Wednesday as scheduled Nigerians should hold the security agencies responsible for failing in their the performance of their duties,” Omolori said.
