Drama Looms As PASAN Threatens To Shutdown National, State Assemblies

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has vowed to shut down the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly to protest failure to grant autonomy to the legislature.

PASAN is demanding that governors should implement financial autonomy for state assemblies in line with the 1999 Constitution.

In separate letters to Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum; Chairman, Forum of Speakers, and Department of State Services (DSS), PASAN explained that it had earlier issued a mandatory 21-day industrial action notice.

The letters, signed by the Acting Secretar-General, Agugbue Happiness, argued that their decision to shut down the Houses of Assembly became imperative due to the governors’ failure to implement the financial autonomy as provided in the constitution.

Happiness said the ultimatum was given on September 18, but the governors ignored it till it expired.

The letter reads: “We refer to our letters dated September 18 and October 7, 2023, on the 21-day ultimatum to embark on industrial action if financial autonomy is not implemented in the State Houses of Assembly by October 18. We hereby inform you that the leadership of our great union has further extended the ultimatum by one week.

“We hope the extension would further avail ample opportunity to meet our demands  and avert the industrial action. We reiterate the union’s preparedness to direct its members to embark on the proposed strike if its demands are not yielded to.”

Ondo Assembly complex locked

The Ondo State House of Assembly complex was locked as protesting workers staged a peaceful walk to press home their demands.

Chairman, Mrs. Omolola Olufemi, said: “The bedrock of parliamentary autonomy hinges on financial independence. defined as non-dependence and non-subordination of parliaments in relation to the executive.

“The parliaments should have equitable access to resources. As such, parliaments by constitutional arrangements should have enough financial muscle to carry out their legislative mandate, including exercising power over the budget.”