Tension as NASS staff threaten strike over minimum wage

Sunday Aborisade, Abuja

Civil servants at the National Assembly, under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, have threatened to embark on a strike if the management of the apex legislative institution failed to put measures in place for the immediate implementation of the new minimum wage.

The workers held an emergency congress on Monday and resolved to start an industrial action any moment this month if there was no indication that the N30,000 new minimum wage would be paid.

Speaking with our correspondent on the development, an assistant director at the National Assembly Service Commission said, “It is true that our union is threatening to go on strike if they don’t pay. The management has not come up with any commitment yet. They only say only junior staff will benefit but the union kicked against it.”

The workers said the implementation became necessary in view of the extant law, which does not exempt the National Assembly staff.

The workers in a communiqué obtained by our correspondent on Friday, also demanded the payment of the 2018, being the 28 per cent of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure and the implementation of Conditions of Service and the extension of retirement age from 35 years of service and 60 years of age to 40 years of service and 65 years of age respectively.

The National Secretary of PASAN, Haruna Suleiman, confirmed that the union at the congress took a decision on the minimum wage but said the PASAN executive had not met with the management on the issue.

However, the management of the federal parliament has said there was nothing to worry about on the planned strike by the workers.

The Director of Information, Mr Rawlings Agada, told our correspondent on Friday the management would soon sit with the union to look into their demands.

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