Delta Assembly Staff Shut Down Assembly Complex over Welfare issues

BY PATRICK OGBOGU

Staff of the Delta State House of Assembly have shut down the assembly complex in protest over welfare issues.

The Delta State Chairman of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria [PASAN] Comrade Emmanuel Edozien while presenting a copy of the union's demand to the Special Adviser to Gov Ifeanyi Okowa on Legislative Matters, Rt Hon Martins Okonta at the gate of the assembly complex said the move was to enable the governor's aide intervene on the issues that led to the staff going on strike in order to bring an end to the imbroglio.

THE Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Delta State chapter yesterday locked out members of the state House of Assembly in protest over unfulfilled demands bothering on staff welfare.

Members of the association locked the two entrance gates to the assembly complex located along Okpanam Road Asaba and prevented anybody from gaining access, but security operatives were later drafted to maintain peace.

Comrade Edozien appealed to the leadership of the House to look into their demands to enable the staff go back to work.

He listed some of their demands to include the non-payment of imprest and running cost alleging that his members were receiving very poor medical attention at the Assembly Clinic which he claimed, lacked any drug store.

Besides, he said the leadership of the House has refused to elevate a staff to the position of a deputy clerk as stipulated in the existing House of Assembly Service Law, adding that the position of a deputy clerk had remained vacant since the retirement of the former deputy clerk over one year ago.

“Appointment of a deputy Clerk is another problem. Since the Deputy Clerk retired last year, the vacuum has not been fill and there is a law passed by the same House for that position. We need a Deputy Clerk, who is a staff and not a politician.

The PASAN Boss said the House has also refused to move files of staff for the payment of outfit and special duty allowance to the state governor for necessary action.

“For the outfit and special duty allowances, it is a yearly ritual. It is something that has existed over the years across legislatures all over the country. The House has refused to move our files to the governor. This touches on workers’ welfare, so we will not let it go just like that,” he vowed.

Comrade Edozien stressed that the assembly clinic need more manpower as the only medical doctor could not cope with the pressure of work amidst non availability of drugs.

“Since February 2016, there is no single drugstore at the Assembly Clinic and this is affecting the staff. In the past two months, we have lost about four staffs. What is happening is not good for the system. We said at least, let some drugs be provided, they refused.

“A Doctor cannot service the Assembly staff, the members, their relatives and the assembly commission. So, we need another Doctor.

Edozie alleged that the House has also neglected “certain aspects of deceased staffs’ welfare, who died in active service,” adding that the House has now abandoned burial arrangements for those who died in active service to bereaved family, while at the same time, the House has relented in payment of outstanding death benefits.

Efforts to reach the Speaker of the House proved abortive as at the time of filing this report but the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Henry Ebireri said the House was already on top of the matter, adding that all the issues will be addressed.

The assembly gate had been shut since yesterday with two police van manning the gate to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Some staff were seen around the gate, while others relaxed under the mango trees opposite the assembly complex.