It was gathered that the state assembly workers who staged a peaceful protest to the state assembly complex in Awka, the state capital, said they are embarking on the industrial action over non-payment of their numerous entitlements, poor pay and poor working conditions.
Workers at the Anambra State House of Assembly under the umbrella of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), have commenced an indefinite strike in the state.
It was gathered that the state assembly workers who staged a peaceful protest to the state assembly complex in Awka, the state capital, said they are embarking on the industrial action over non-payment of their numerous entitlements, poor pay and poor working conditions.
The aggrieved workers accused lawmakers in the state of recruiting corps members to perform their duties instead of paying them.
Speaking on the matter, the Deputy National President of PASAN, Comrade Promise Chijioke Onwukwe, said, “We had embarked on this strike before but the Conference Of Speakers of the 36 state assemblies and the Governor’s Forum appealed to us that all our entitlements would be settled, but here in Anambra State, nothing has been done.”
According to the aggrieved state assembly staff, they staged the protest against the lack of enhanced salary known as CONYRESS, staff training, laptops, ICT unit in the complex and utility vehicles, adding that they are also demanding for employment of more staff.
Speaking further, Onwukwe lamented, “You go to collect or submit mails and you will be trekking from one office to the other under the sun, while those that you are working for are cruising in air-conditioned vehicles.
“It might not be far from the truth that Gov Charles Soludo may have provided all these things but they are nowhere to be found and this is unfortunate.
“Go round the complex, you will see that it has been overgrown by grasses and staff kill all manner of reptiles, snakes and scorpions almost every week.”
In his reaction to the claims by the workers, the State House of Assembly Majority Leader, Ikenna Ofodeme described the claims as untrue.
Ofodeme said that most of the workers are strictly under the office of the Head Of Service and they are posted to work with the state Assembly members, stressing that if they don’t want to work at the House of Assembly, they are free to go back to the Head of Service.
The Majority Leader said, “It is only the Anambra State PASAN that is on strike and they are not on strike because their statutory payments are not being paid, they are on strike because they are talking about their welfare which has to do with their allowances.
“Most of those staff are strictly under the office of the Head Of Service and they are posted to come and work with the state Assembly members.
“They are duty bound to listen to where they are posted. If they don’t want to work at the House of Assembly, they are free to go back to the Head of Service and not to come here to disrupt the activities of the House of Assembly.”