PASSAN SUSPENDS STRIKE IN ANAMBRA

REPORTER: KEVIN EKEDIEGWU

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Anambra State chapter, says it has suspended the indefinite strike it embarked upon om March 28, 2024

The Chairman of the Association in the state, Mr. Abraham Okoye, told journalists in Awka, that the decision was reached after the state government had set in motion measures to address their demands.

Mr. Okoye said part of the measures adopted by the state government was to address issues of unpaid peculiar allowances of the staff of state House Assembly

He explained that the executive of the State PASAN and the South East zonal leadership of PASAN met with the leadership of the State Assembly, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Head of Service, and a team of permanent secretaries concerning their demands.

According to Mr. Okoye, the meeting resolved that the leadership of the Assembly commits to the payment of Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) to the staff.

The PASAN State Chairman said the meeting also agreed to form a joint committee of the Executive and the Assembly to look into the issues and advise the Governor on the modalities for financial autonomy of Anambra state House of Assembly.

Mr. Okoye pointed out that,with the new developments, Anambra state PASAN was directed by its national body to suspend the indefinite strike for two months.

According to Mr Okoye, if nothing is done by the end of the two months timeline, PASAN will recommence the strike.

He stated that they embarked on an indefinite strike due to the non implementation of full legislative financial autonomy and non payment of the allowances that had been recurring in the state’s budget since 2019.

Mr. Okoye emphasized that the association was also protesting non-constitution of the state Legislative Service Commission as provided by the Anambra Legislative Service Commission Law, 2022.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU