Assembly staff lock out lawmakers in Delta

The Delta chapter of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria on Monday prevented the staff and members of the House of Assembly from entering the premises of the complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the action was taken by the staff to protest non-implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the management.

NAN reports that the two gates leading to the complex were locked and most workers could not gain access to the premises.

Some of the demands of the union included the immediate removal of the Clerk of the Assembly, provision of housing and car loans to staff, training and retraining of staff and the amendment of the House of Assembly Service Commission Law.

The state Chairman of PASAN, Mr McCarthy Obrotu, told NAN that the management of the Assembly refused to implement the MoU signed by the negotiating team from the Assembly and the union.

Obrotu said, “Since Jauary 20, both parties signed an MoU and till date, the House has refused to implement the MoU.

“We have written severally reminding the House of the MoU, but as I am speaking with you now, the House has refused to implement our request.

“Out of the 15 demands we listed in the MoU, it is only the outfit allowance that has been implemented.”

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Peter Onwusanya, however told newsmen that, “we have met all the agreement in the MoU.”

He condemned the action of the union for locking the assembly complex, adding that no notice was served on the management.

“They erred by locking the gate without serving notice to the appropriate authority,” Onwusanya said.

He appealed to members and the Assembly workers to resume duty on Tuesday to enable both parties settle their differences.

“I am calling for a meeting between the management of the Assembly and the union because the management is not aware of their grievances.

“This meeting will enable us hear what their grievances are and how to resolve such grievances,” the Speaker said.