Workers of the Ogun State House of Assembly under the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) have begun an indefinite strike over their salaries. The industrial action comes after the state government failed to implement the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), which was passed by the National Assembly. The union had also asked the state government to comply with the provisions of sections 10(2), 13, and 14 of the State Assembly Service Commission Law 2018, and the Statutory Offices (State Emoluments) Amendment Law 2018 as it affects due salary and allowances to some of their members since their respective dates of appointment.
About a week ago, members of the Ogun State chapter of PASAN protested the failure of the state government to immediately commence the implementation of their much-agitated CONLESS. The members locked the assembly’s gate against the state lawmakers and other government functionaries. They also declared a three-day warning strike over the failure of the state government to consider their demands. PASAN’s state chairman, Ayotunde Ojediran, spoke to newsmen at the entrance gate of the assembly in Abeokuta.
Government non-compliance resulted in non-payment of salary.
He said that their action was targeted at registering their displeasure against the state government’s refusal to listen to their demands. He said that the Governor Dapo Abiodun led administration was yet to comply with the provision of the State Assembly Service Commission Law, 2018- specifically Sections 10(2), 13 and 14, and the Statutory Offices (State Emoluments) Amendment Law, 2018. Because of this, it had resulted in the non-payment of salaries and allowances to the three most senior officers in the assembly since their respective dates of appointment.
According to Ojediran, the implementation of CONLESS to staff members in the state assembly and House of Assembly Service Commission would place the workers on the same pedestal with the state judiciary who had been enjoying Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure (CONJESS). He said that the union had written a letter to Ogun State Government stating all the demands. In the letter, the union issued a 21-day ultimatum to meet the demands but they did nothing till the ultimatum lasted.
No meaningful agreement was reached via negotiations.
At the time, the chairman said that the union was in negotiation with the state government, but both are yet to reach any meaningful agreement. “If all these issues are not addressed, it will not be too good for the system. This is an institution but unfortunately people are not receiving what is due to them,” he said. The chairman said that they were optimistic that the government would do the needful before the expiration of the three-day warning strike.
With the expiration of the ultimatum last Thursday, the workers shut down the assembly complex but still got no response from the government. Backing the action of its state chapter, the national body of PASAN, in a letter dated May 9 and signed by its Secretary-General, Awobifa Hammed, demanded full compliance with the provisions of the stated laws. The union announced the decision to begin the strike through a communiqué made available to journalists after its state congress and signed by its chairman and secretary, Ayotunde Ojediran and David Adediran, respectively.
PASAN released a communique dated May 31, 2023.
After an emergency congress of PASAN was held on May 31, 2023, to consider the persistent issues concerning the state of welfare of the members of the union and the sustenance of quality service delivery by members of staff, they identified unresolved issues. The conclusion of the meeting resulted in a statement signed by the state chairman and released that same day. It read, “The failure of the State Government to adequately address the two demands of our members by close of work on May 31, 2023 will result in the union embarking on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action, commencing from the early hours of June 1, 2023.”
Related Link
PASAN: Website
Ogun assembly workers strike over salary. – They demand the implementation of consolidated salary structure. – Express your point of view.
The strike by workers of the Ogun State Assembly over salary is indicative of the many challenges faced by workers in Nigeria. It highlights the need for government at all levels to prioritize the welfare of workers and ensure that they are paid their salaries and other entitlements promptly and consistently.
I can’t blame the workers cause the indefinite strike demonstrates their pain over their unpaid salaries. I just hope the government enter a dialogue with them and resolve the issue sooner.
The worker are work and not getting paid is proper they go on strike and don’t want to work anymore until their demand is meant
Ogun assembly workers strike over salary Why won’t they strike people are just working without benefit from it just working without no return how can they survive when they are not receiving salary
I don’t know why most government will wait until workers go on strike before responding to their plight. Please,the Ogun state government should respond positively to their workers. They shouldn’t be deprived of their entitlement.
Paying salary for worker is compulsory this is their compensation for the work done they are fighting for their right demanding for salary so if they strike for not paying them their salary is the right move to make
The salary of this Ogun State House of Assembly should be paid as soon as possible. The lawmakers collect huge salaries and make the workers unpaid. That is very unfair.
Ogun assembly workers strike over salary. Nigeria need prayers this time. Bad government has increase hardship in the country. Our leaders lack planning. Salary is not enough for people to survive, transportation is very high, food stuff is very expensive, house rent is increasing every year. So they should increase workers salary
Please, government should stop the act of not paying workers salary. How do they want them to survive. That is why some civil servants result in an act of extortion because they government refuse to deliver.