PASAN Shuts Down Nasarawa, Benue, Edo, Ogun Assemblies, Begins Strike
Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has commenced strike action pressing for the implementation of legislative autonomy in the country.
Addressing journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, yesterday, Mr Suleiman Oshafu, the chairman of the union, explained that the strike is total while urging the state governors to do the needful by implementing financial autonomy for state houses of assembly.
He said, “We are here today to embark on a strike over financial autonomy for the state houses of assembly. Financial autonomy will promote accountability, transparency and good governance in the country.
“What we want from the government is that all state legislatures must be financially autonomous. This strike is nationwide, it is an indefinite strike.”
Similarly, staff of the Benue State House of Assembly under the umbrella of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) yesterday prevented the lawmakers from accessing the assembly complex.
The body had joined its counterparts nationwide on an indefinite strike to press home demand for the implementation of the constitutional provision which granted financial and administrative autonomy to all the 36 state houses of assembly.
Addressing the protesters, speaker of the house, Aondona Dajoh, threw his weight behind their clamour for financial autonomy.
Dajoh who is also the North Central National Vice Chairman of the Forum of Speakers, explained that the issue of financial autonomy for state legislature had become a constitutional matter that should be complied with in order to strengthen the operations of the legislature at the states level.
Earlier, the Chairman of PASAN, Benue State House of Assembly Chapter, Comrade Francis Adole, said the strike action followed the expiration of several ultimatums issued to government by the union.
Also, workers yesterday shut the Ogun State House of Assembly’s gate in Abeokuta, as they joined an indefinite strike by the national body of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN).
The industrial action was declared to press for the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislatures.
The PASAN State Chairman, Ojediran Ayotunde, who led other executives to address the emergency congress held at the entrance of the assembly, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, noted that the chapter would fully comply with the industrial action.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Umaru Farouk Haruna, Chairman, PASAN Edo State chapter, said the national body had directed all chairmen and secretaries to mobilise members to ensure compliance.
