Parliamentary staff in Anambra suspend indefinite strike

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Anambra chapter, said it had suspended the indefinite strike it began on March 28.

The association’s chairman, Abraham Okoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Tuesday that the decision was taken after the government took measures to meet the association’s demands.

Okoye said part of the measures was to address the problem of unpaid special allowances to staff of the state House of Assembly.

READ ALSO: Financial autonomy: Anambra Parliament workers embark on indefinite strike

“The Anambra PASAN Executive and the South East Zonal Command of PASAN met with the leadership of the State Assembly, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the Head of Service and a team of Permanent Secretaries,” he said.

“During the meetings, it was decided that the leadership of the Assembly would commit to paying the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) to the staff.

“A joint committee of the Executive and the Assembly has been set up to examine the modalities for the financial autonomy of the Anambra State House of Assembly and to advise the Governor on the matter.

“In view of the above developments, PASAN in Anambra State has been directed by its national body to suspend the indefinite strike for two months.”

According to Okoye, PASAN will resume the strike if no action is taken within the two-month deadline.

READ ALSO: PASAN strike: Workers paralyze assembly in Sokoto

According to NAN, the indefinite strike was due to the failure to implement the full financial autonomy of the legislature and the non-payment of recurring allowances in the state budget since 2019.

The association also protested against the non-establishment of the state Legislative Service Commission under the Anambra Legislative Service Commission Law, 2022.