By Austin Ogwuda
IN a stark display of discontent, the staff of the Delta State Legislature under the umbrella of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, (PASAN) have embarked on indefinite strike, protesting the governor’s alleged failure to implement key campaign promises.
Governor Oborevwori, who is marking his one year in office today with pomp and pageantry ascended from Speaker of the State House of Assembly to Governor, had pledged to implement the Staff Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) upon assumption of office as the governor of the oil-rich State.
Ironically, one year later, the promise remained unfulfilled, leading to widespread disappointment and frustration among the Assembly staff who thought that with him as Governor of the State he would understand their plight better having climbed from the Legislature to Executive arm of government.
As the State celebrates his one-year milestone, the legislative staff are absent from the festivities, underscoring their dissatisfaction by carefully chosen today (anniversary day) to resume their previously suspended strike, accusing the governor of being indifferent to their legitimate welfare demands.
Prior to the strike action, the Assembly staff held a meeting Tuesday at the Assembly complex and came up with a communique.
The communique addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor was signed by the State Chairman of PASAN, Comrade Emmanuel Edozie and Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Osubor, copies of which were also sent to all Directors, National Presidents of PASAN, Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Director, DSS Delta State and Chairman, NLC, Delta State, press among others.
It recalled how it suspended its earlier strike scheduled for 28th, February, 2024 following the intervention of Conference of Speakers and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to allow for full implementation of financial autonomy/payment of CONLESS and establishment of the House of Assembly Service Commission in States that have not passed the Law and other issues that affect the Legislature.
The Communique stated that “The two weeks appeal given to us by the Speaker to allow Committee set up by His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to work out modalities of payment of CONLESS to staff have since elapsed without any substantial progress.
“Congress frowns that after the said Committee has been given more than two months to work to fulfill it’s mandate of payment of CONLESS, it is yet to come up with a decision. Congress views these delay tactics as a ploy to deprive staff their entitlements and a sign that they lack the political will to pay.
“Congress also expresses its displeasure that the other issues raised at the meeting of March, 28, 2024, bothering on training, funding of the DTHA clinic, regularisation of casual staff among others are yet to be addressed or given attention after two months.
“Congress have exercised enough patience, restraint given in the face of the harsh economic downturn, understanding with the speaker and the committee set up by His Excellency the executive governor of Delta state and our patience have run thin. Arising from the above, Congress do now resolve to resume the suspended industrial action effective 12:00am Wednesday, 29, May, 2024 indefinitely. Congress resolves that the resume strike action will only be resuspended in the event that approval and subsequent payment of CONLESS to staff and other issues enumerated above are addressed”, said the Communique.
A visit to the State Assembly complex showed that the gates were under lock and key as early as 5am Wednesday morning.
Efforts to reach the Chief Press Secretary CPS to the Speaker, Nkem Nwaeke for comments were unsuccessful as at the time of filing in this report.
caption: the main gate leading to the Delta State House of Assembly complex under lock and key