Parliamentary employees in Anambra protest inadequate care and unlawful sitting
On Tuesday, the Anambra State branch of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria organized a nonviolent demonstration against the state Assembly’s administration, entitlements, and inadequate welfare.
The organization also charged the State House of Assembly of engaging in unlawful sitting and enlisting National Youth Service Corps participants to fill the positions of the Assembly’s statutory personnel.
Chanting songs of togetherness, the demonstrators carried banners and posters throughout the assembly complex, adamant that their action was in keeping with their aspirations for better member welfare, as achieved in other federation states.
Speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, PASAN’s Deputy National President Promise Onwukwe stated that the group had organized the protest in response to the state legislators’ “insensitivity” toward the Assembly personnel.
“The Assembly of the Anambra State has not fulfilled its obligations to its labor force,” Onwukwe declared. We are discussing the payment of a higher wage known as CONYLESS, staff training, laptop distribution, the creation of an ICT unit, hiring more personnel, and utility cars for the Assembly.
While the people you work for are riding in air-conditioned cars, you will be walking in the scorching sun from one office to another to pick up or deliver mail.
“It’s regrettable that all these things, which the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, may have offered, are nowhere to be discovered, even if it may not be far from the truth.
Onwukwe pointed to the overgrown grasses in the Assembly property and said that virtually every week, Assembly employees kill different reptiles, snakes, and scorpions, suggesting an unfavorable work environment.
He further claimed that the unlawful sittings of the Anambra State House of Assembly without staff members present are taking place. Onwukwe claims that the legislators treat other employees like slaves and prioritize their own interests.
According to Onwukwe, the employees’ pay and benefits are not the same as those of their counterparts in other states. Their outfit allowance of N1,000 is their only stipend.
“The Anambra State government’s legislativ
e branch has let us down. While ignoring their employees, the honorable members talk about their own well-being. They prohibited employees from carrying out their official duties within the state. He said, “They are working inside the home by borrowing corps members.
In addition, Okoye Abraham, the chairman of Anambra State PASAN, spoke. He stated that when the house started a strike, more corps members were brought in to replace the original three.
Abraham stated, “Instead of addressing our problem, they decided to get more corps members to carry out the business of the house. We only had three corps members deployed in the house, and for the house to sit, it must have fifteen of us.”
However, Ikenna Sylvester, the majority leader of the house, rejected their assertions and charged them of interfering with legislative business in his responses on behalf of the state assembly.
Only the Anambra State PASAN is on strike, according to Sylvester, and they are not on strike as a result of not receiving their statutory wages. They are on strike because they are discussing issues related to their allowances and welfare. What does one use the allowances for?
It has to do with the internal payment, which you must make according to your employment status or the region in where you operate.
“Since you are requesting an allowance, you must be present in the working compound so that we can see your precise actions and your number, decide what is required, and provide the services that are expected of them.
According to Sylvester, the majority of the staff members at the Anambra State House of Assembly are directly under the supervision of the Head of Service, having been assigned to collaborate with the state Assembly members.
He stated, “They have a responsibility to pay attention to their posting and understand exactly what is expected of them. If they choose not to work at the House of Assembly, they are free to return to the Head of Service and refrain from interfering with Assembly business.”
On the phone, our correspondent was informed by NYSC Public Relations Officer Emeka Ugwu that he was not aware of any new corps members stationed in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
