Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) have threaten to cripple legislative activities of the National Assembly if their demands are not addressed.
The union members are protesting what they describe as the National Assembly management’s neglect of their welfare demands as well as intimidation and harassment of union activists.
Beyond financial grievances, the union members accuse the National Assembly management of intimidation and harassment aimed at stifling union activities.
They are demanding a rule-driven unionism anchored on the provisions of the PASAN Constitution, 2015, citing several provisions mandating the executive officers to be financially transparent, including preparing annual budgets and circulating audited accounts.
The management, while acknowledging the protest notice, has occasionally attempted to deflect the grievances, claiming that the agitation is driven by “internal union-related issues” or attempts to disband the local PASAN chapter.
However, the workers maintain that their action is protected under the Nigerian Constitution and the Trade Union Act.
This repeated standoff over welfare, which has historically led to the shutdown of legislative operations and threatened to disrupt critical legislative activities such as budget defense sessions, underscores the deep-seated labor concerns within the National Assembly bureaucracy.
