Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president, has been denied access to the senate chamber by National Assembly staff protesting for non payment of salaries.
The angry staff shutdown both chambers of the parliament on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, in Abuja.
They were protesting the non-payment of salaries, allowances and non-promotion by the management of the National Assembly.
Some lawmakers who attempted to gain access into the two chambers, were prevented.
For over five minutes, Ekweremadu, tried without success, to convince the protesting staff. His pleas were rebuffed. After his fruitless attempts, Ekweremadu had to use another route to access his office.
Some of the workers claim they are being owed wages from as far back as 2010. They also alleged that funds meant for training had been diverted.
Carrying banners and placards, some of the workers were heard chanting “no pay, no sitting”
The angry workers also prevented him from addressing them.
The workers are also on a three day warning strike to protest non implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary scale.
They called for the immediate resignation of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Omolori.
The Management of the National Assembly had on Monday urged the staff not to embark on the planned strike, saying that their concerns were being addressed.
Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the clerk to the national assembly, made this known in a seven-page letter addressed to the staff through the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, dated November 3, 2018.
PASAN at the weekend threatened to picket the National Assembly premises from Tuesday, December 4, 2018, over non-payment of outstanding salaries and allowances of its members.
But Sani-Omolori expressed concern that despite efforts by the management to address issues raised by them, they still insisted to embark on the planned strike.
