PASAN dismisses NLC’s seven-day ultimatum over staff transfer

The Abia State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has rejected a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) concerning the transfer of assembly staff. PASAN asserts that the NLC lacks the authority to represent parliamentary unions on such matters.

Recall that the Abia State NLC Chairman, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, had called on the Head of Service to reverse the transfers of the state PASAN Chairman, Mr. Sunday Kalu, and his Secretary, Mr. Ucheka Ugochukwu. The NLC also demanded the implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for parliamentary staff, warning of a three-day warning strike if their demands were not met. The NLC leader suggested the transfers were a consequence of the government's failure to implement the CONLESS salary structure, which PASAN had requested following the rollout of the new minimum wage.

PASAN, however, issued a statement clarifying that all assembly staff affected by the Abia State Public Service posting have reported to their new Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. The statement, signed by acting Chairman Comrade Anthony Nwaobilor and Public Relations Officer Comrade Adiele Loveday, indicated that PASAN has established new leadership currently in advanced negotiations with the Abia State government.

The NLC had previously stated that the transfers were suspicious and stemmed from the government's reneging on an agreement after PASAN joined a nationwide action to protest the non-implementation of CONLESS. The NLC also recounted an incident where the Deputy Speaker allegedly broke an NLC chain used to lock the assembly gate, a chain reportedly costing two million naira and specially fabricated.

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CONLESS is a consolidated salary structure, similar to CONMESS for health workers and TSS for teachers, that bundles allowances into the basic salary.