Workers Shutdown National Assembly Over Unpaid Allowances

*****Shun Saraki

Angered by a common plight but inspired by the same spirit of solidarity; National Assembly workers under the umbrella of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria{PASAN} on Tuesday shutdown the National Assembly; stopping normal legislative activities.

The workers stormed the National Assembly complex as early as 8am ahead of plenary on Tuesday demanding payment of outstanding allowances since 2010.

For several hours, the workers demonstrated freely in the hallway to both chambers of the National Assembly.

Their placards carrying the inscriptions of their anger against the management of the National Assembly especially the Clerk, Sani Omolori.

Although the workers were peaceful in their conduct; they effectively blocked the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who was just resuming that morning from from gaining access to the chambers.

But it was not only Ekweremadu that was served the cruel treatment by the angry workers.

The workers quickly transferred their aggression to Senator Kabir Marafa and a few other lawmakers from the House of Representatives; stopping them from entering the chambers.

With lawmakers effectively barred from sitting; the workers carried on with their protest relentlessly carrying a replica of the "mace" to show they were in full control.

The workers appear to have gone beyond reasoning at this point and not even appeals from Senate President, Bukola Saraki was enough to calm their frayed nerves.

Speaking with journalists moments later, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan accompanied by his countrrpart in the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila disclosed that even though the protest was not against lawmakers, the leadership considered it necessary to intervene in the matter.

He further disclosed that the 28% increase in the allowances was not captured in the 2018 budget of the National Assembly.

Lawan therefore appealed to the workers to allow lawmakers deliberate on the matter at plenary on Wednesday and resolve the problem.

It is left to be seen if the workers would yield to these appeals.