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Tag: PASAN

  • PASAN Protest Non-Implementation of Minimum Wage

    PASAN Protest Non-Implementation of Minimum Wage

    Staff working in the National Assembly, operating under the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), on Monday, embarked on a protest over the non-implementation of minimum wage.

    Reports gathered that the workers converged on the lobby of the white house of the National Assembly with placards condemning the action of the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) for breaching the memorandum of understanding (MoU) entered into in 2021.

    A copy of the resolutions to embark on protest dated 6th January 2022 and addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) which was sighted by DAILY POST, showed that the association raised six fundamental breaches by the NASS management that triggered the protest.

    The resolution, which was signed by the association’s Chairman, Comrade Sunday Sabiyi, and the Vice-Chairman, Comrade M.A. Liman, accused the NASC and NASS of deliberate contempt of their MoU which was agreed on 14th April 2021 stating that “there would be full implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, and the Revised Condition of Service.”

    Part of the resolutions read: “Following the Management’s breach of the Memorandum of Understanding entered with PASAN on the 13th April 2021, on the full implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, and the Revised Condition of Service, Congress hereby observes put the management on protest notice.”

  • Parliamentary Staff Association Threaten to Embark on Strike Over Non Implementation of Financial Autonomy

    Parliamentary Staff Association Threaten to Embark on Strike Over Non Implementation of Financial Autonomy

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria have threatened to embark on industrial action to press home their demand for the implementation of the Financial Autonomy for State Houses of Assembly.

    It could be recalled that the association had embarked on strike in March this year over failure on the part of State Governments to grant state Houses of Assembly Financial Autonomy.

    Day Break gathered that it took the intervention of the state governors and other stakeholders who agreed that State Governments would implement their demands within 45 days which led to the suspension of the industrial action in June, 2021.

    The ultimatum expired Thursday last week with the union members threatening to embark on another strike.

    The Chairman of the Association, Benue State House of Assembly Chapter, Mr Francis Adole said states like Ekiti, Sokoto, Plateau have commenced the implementation of the financial autonomy for their States legislatures and enjoined Benue State to emulate them.

    Day Break learned that, Benue State House of Assembly had passed the Assembly Funds Management Law and transmitted same to the executive for accent to pave the way for its implementation of the aforementioned autonomy.

  • FG Signs Agreement With Judiciary, Parliamentary Workers On Implementation Of Financial Autonomy

    FG Signs Agreement With Judiciary, Parliamentary Workers On Implementation Of Financial Autonomy

    The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) in its bid to resolve the strike by the unions.

    This followed a meeting between the government and the leaders of the unions presided over by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Thursday in Abuja, the state capital.

    It was the latest in the series of meetings to address the issues that led to the ongoing industrial action by the judiciary and parliamentary workers unions since April 6.

    At the end of the meeting, both parties signed an agreement asking state governments to commence the implementation of financial autonomy to the states.

    They were asked to transfer their statutory allocations, beginning with the April Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation expected to be shared next week.

    Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, the minister was hopeful that the workers would call off the strike as soon as their accounts were credited when the April federal allocations were shared.

    He assured Nigerians, especially those who have pending court cases that there was a renewed hope that the industrial action would soon be suspended.

    However, the courts across the country would remain closed until then.

    Also at the meeting were representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), as well as federal and states legislators, among others.

    Following a failed negotiation meeting between the government and the striking workers last month, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Ngige, and other relevant stakeholders to address the problem with the unions.

    He explained that the directive became necessary to ensure the issues raised by the workers were resolved to resume activities in various courts across the country.

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi, had told journalists after a meeting with Professor Gambari that the governors were not opposed to financial autonomy for the judiciary.

    On April 20, leaders of JUSUN and PASAN walked out from the venue of a meeting scheduled with the minister as they refused to listen to pleas from the permanent secretary who informed them that Ngige was holding a meeting with the government team in his office.

    But Ngige said the meeting was postponed to enable the government’s negotiating team harmonise all issues from the Memorandum of Understanding reached at separate meetings with tiers and arms of government.

    According to him, there is no point rushing to do a meeting that will be fruitless, and the arising documents are not yet properly harmonised.

  • Why Meeting With Judiciary, Parliamentary Workers Failed To Hold – FG

    Why Meeting With Judiciary, Parliamentary Workers Failed To Hold – FG

    The meeting with the leadership of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) was postponed, the Federal Government has said.

    Although the meeting was scheduled to hold on Tuesday in Abuja, it failed to take place as the leaders of the unions staged a walkout from the venue.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, explained that the meeting was postponed to enable the government’s negotiating team harmonise all issues from the Memorandum of Understanding reached at separate meetings with tiers and arms of government.

    Amid the ongoing nationwide strike by the judiciary workers, the leaders of the unions staged a walkout from the reconciliation meeting with the government and representatives of the state governors after waiting for over an hour at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, where the failed meeting was to be held.

    Chanting solidarity songs as they left the conference room, the striking workers refused to listen to pleas from the permanent secretary who informed them that Ngige was holding a meeting with the government team in his office.

    It was the second failed meeting scheduled with the minister in the series of discussions aimed at resolving the impasse between the government and the judiciary workers whose strike has paralysed activities across the courts in the country.

    Defending the action of the government while briefing reporters in his office, Ngige said it became necessary to ensure the meeting with the unions came with a Memorandum of Action that would be implementable with timelines.

    “There is no point rushing to do a meeting that will be fruitless. The judiciary, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and even the Presidency are involved in this negotiation because the meeting held yesterday (Monday) was at the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

    “The arising documents are not yet properly harmonised; it will, therefore, not be fruitful to hold a negotiation where people speak from irreconcilable positions.  It won’t help us, and it won’t help the unions either,” the minister was quoted as saying in a statement by a spokesperson for the ministry, Charles Akpan.

    He added, “The reason is to ensure that the agreement reached at the end of our meeting here is put into action, with timelines for implementation.

    “So, if we don’t have a paper that is ready to go, then there will be no point for the talk shop.”

    Ngige alleged that the unions’ leaders were in a hurry despite being informed of the little time needed for him to round off a meeting with the government team.

    “It is better done properly so that the governors can implement whatever agreement we enter into. The governors hold the ace because they hold the sovereign in their respective states, even though they are sub-nationals, but they run the government of those states,” he said.

  • Financial Autonomy: Parliamentary Workers Commence Indefinite Strike

    Financial Autonomy: Parliamentary Workers Commence Indefinite Strike

    The national leadership of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has declared an indefinite strike across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    At a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, PASAN National President, Usman Mohammed, directed members of the union to embark on industrial action from Tuesday morning.

    He explained that directive became necessary following the unwillingness of the Federal Government to implement the Financial Autonomy Act of 2018 and Presidential Order 10.

    Mohammed, who noted that the union had explored all available options to avert the strike, decried that their efforts had yet to yield any positive result.

    “The union having exhausted all attempts aimed at asking for the implementation of the financial autonomy by the Federal Government after 21 days, 14 days and seven days ultimatums; at this juncture, the union has no other option than to direct our members to embark on an indefinite strike,” he said.

    According to the PASAN president, the union has been magnanimous by allowing ample time in the last two years for the government, through the Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy for State Judiciary and Legislature, to implement the provisions of the Constitution.

    He added that members of the union have run out of patience and have resolved to put an end to further delays to the implementation of the Financial Autonomy Act.

    “The union will, consequently, commence strike action on the morning of Tuesday, March 23, 2021, until full implementation of the letters of our constitution, as provided in section 121 (3) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Presidential Order 10,2020,” Mohammed stated.

    The parliamentary workers downed tools two weeks after they staged a protest at the gate of the National Assembly in Abuja.

    During the demonstration which held on March 9, they had threatened to continue the protest and occupy all State Houses of Assembly if their demands were not met.

    The workers had also called on the members of the National Assembly to take the necessary steps to ensure the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

  • Financial Autonomy: Parliamentary Staff Association Threatens To Shut down 36 States

    Abel Leonard / lafia

    The Parliamentary  Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), has threatened to shut down states of the Federation if the implementation of the financial autonomy of the  state Houses of Assembly  is not implemented. 

    Comrade Mohammmed Usman, the National President  of the association made this known on Thursday in Lafia when he led other National officials of the  association on a courtesy visit on the Speaker, Nasarawa  State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi.
    Comrade Usman said that the implementation  of the financial autonomy  for the state Houses of Assembly  would strengthening the institution, legislative  duties of the state lawmakers and  would ensure optimal productivity by staff of  the  state Houses of Assembly. 
    ” We are here to discuss some  issues with our  members. First of the issues is the  financial autonomy of the state Houses of assembly and the second issue is the  establishment of the state Houses of Assembly Service Commission.
    “As Parliamentarians  our independent  is paramount to us in order to enhance our productivity.
    ” Nasarawa State is our first point of visit due to its proximity to Abuja as we are going round across the 36 states of the federation.
    ” We will move to ensure that the state Houses of assembly financial  autonomy is implemented, We have being patient for long over the delay in the implementation of the financial autonomy.
    ” If  things are not done appropriately as provided by the law and our rights being denied,we will have no option than to shut down  assemblies and the states as a whole,” he said.
    Usman appreciated the  speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, RT.Hon.Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi for living above board and continue  maintaining good working relationship with the staff of the association  in the state and  called for its sustenance.
    The national president of the association assured of his determination to ensure a robust relationship with government at all levels for accelerated development  across the country.
    Responding, RT.Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly  appreciated the officials  of the association for the visit.
    Balarabe Abdullahi, who was represented by his deputy, Rt.Hon.Nehemiah Tsentse Dandaura also said  that the financial autonomy of the state legislators would boost productivity among the legislators and staff.
    ” I have heard all what you have said. The financial  autonomy itself came from the presidency and we have given it our support and by God’s grace it will be implemented,” the speaker said.
    The speaker who is the National Vice Chairman,North Central Nigeria Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures said if the financial autonomy is implemented it is for the good of all Nigerians and assured PASAN of his support.
    On the issue of Assembly Service Commission he said the state has established its commission already.
    In his vote of thanks, the Chairman PASAN, Nasarawa State Chapter, Comrade Danlami  Nuhu appreciated the national officials for the visit and wish them success as they move round the 36 states of the federation for the struggle.
    On his part the Clerk of the house Mr Ego Maikeffi represented by Barr.Joseph Obiri,the Director Legal Services of the house commended the national body for taking the bull by the horns in accordance with the law.
    It would be recalled that on May 22, 2020 President Muhammadu Buhari  in Abuja signed an executive Order for the implementation of financial autonomy for the legislature and the judiciary at the state levels
    The executive order no 10,of 2020 follows a Presidential Implementation Committee constituted to fashion out strategies and modalities for the implementation of financial autonomy for states’ Legislature and Judiciary in compliance with section 121(3) of the Constitution.