Saraki, Dogara direct n’assembly management to address grievances of workers

Senate President Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, have directed Mohammed Sani-Omolori, clerk of the national assembly, to resolve issues that led to workers strike on Tuesday.

The workers, protesting the non-payment of outstanding salaries and allowances, prevented the lawmakers from sitting on Tuesday.

In a statement, Yusuph Olaniyonu, special adviser to the senate president on media, said Saraki and Dogara in a meeting with the management of the assembly and members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) noted that the demands of the workers needed to be met to ensure conducive atmosphere for legislative duties.

Olaniyonu said the senate president and speaker said grievances of the workers should not be allowed to linger as it was the responsibility of the management to look into it.

“The leadership of the national assembly made it clear to the staff that the issues raised by them were previously unknown to the legislators and that even if they were known to the Senate President and the Speaker, the leadership could do little to address them because they fall under the purview of the NASS’s management,” he said.

“They added that the constitution of the National Assembly Service Commission which the workers demanded will be made before Friday.

“The workers demanded for the implementation of the CONLESS system in the payment of their salaries and allowances, approval of new condition of service for the workers, among other issues.

“However, Dr. Saraki and Rt. Hon. Dogara, as well as their colleagues also reassured the workers that they will personally supervise how the management will eventually resolve the issues and ensure that the workers are not shortchanged.”