Breaking: Protest rocks NASS over non-implemenation of minimum wage as Clerk goes into hiding

Serious protest has rocked the National Assembly on Monday by the staff who operates under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, (PASAN) over non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

The protest has forced the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Architect Amos Olatunde Ojo to go into hiding.

CAPITAL POST which monitored the protest learnt that the Clerk was supposed to address the protesters on their concerns, but when the protesters who converged in the lobby of the white house waited in vain, only to be told that the Clerk has left.

Another report has it that he went for a meeting, but our correspondent was hinted by a source in CNA’s office that when the Clerk saw the swell of staff gathering for the protest, he quickly left.

The PASAN members condemned the action of the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, (NASC), Engr Kadi Amshi and the CNA for breaching the memorandum of understanding (MoU) entered into in 2021.

Staff working in the National Assembly are recruited by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and posted to the National Assembly complex.

But a copy of the protest letter dated 6th January, 2022 which was made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja, the association accused the Chairman of the NASC of conniving with the Clerk to the National Assembly to deny the implementation of the minimum despite agreement to that effect.

The resolution which was signed by the Association’s Chairman, Comrade Sunday Sabiyi and the Vice Chairman, Comrade M.A. Liman accused the NASC and NASS of deliberate contempt of their MoU which was agreed on 14th April, 2021 stating that “there would be full implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, and the Revised Condition of Service.”

Part of the resolutions bread: “Following the Management’s breach of the Memorandum of Understanding entered with PASAN on the 13th April, 2021, on the full implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, and the Revised Condition of Service, Congress hereby observes put the management on protest notice.”

The protesters in the letter said: “Breach of MoU by the decision of management not to honour it as at 31st December 2021. That in contravention of the new National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, management violated the said Act by shortchanging staff by 8 months etc.”

However, the media adviser to the CNA could not be reached immediately for reaction.