The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has expressed shock at what it called “the clandestine plot” by some individuals to truncate the recently passed staff conditions of service being enjoyed by its members.
They’re calling on the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawal and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, for prompt intervention.
The National President, Comrade Muhammed Usman, in a statement on Saturday expressed regret, noting that the new conditions of service was an initiative of PASAN muted through the 5th National Assembly service commission, then presented to the 8th National Assembly and was since gazetted after it passed through the required due process.
He expressed concern that the new regulation has been in operation since May 2019 and currently being domesticated at the State Houses of Assembly.
According to him, it is aimed at putting the Nigeria Parliamentary workers at par with international standard and has no contending issues except agitation for its full implementation “till of recent when a faceless and unknown group that claimed to be a Non-governmental organization with the name, “Next Level due process group” in the Daily Independent of Monday,18th May, 2020 made several frivolous allegations against the authority of the National Assembly calling for the stoppage of the conditions of service”.
The group further displayed its ignorance to legislative norms when it claimed that the Regulation was a Bill which required assent by President Muhammadu Buhari, Usman said.
He reiterated that in presenting the proposal to the Senate, the then Senate Leader(now President of the Senate), Senator Ahmed Lawan stated that “the reform was necessitated by the overriding need to entrench specialization, professionalism and quality service delivery that come with years of experience.”
The president while stating that the union is committed to service for Democracy, further said: “Revised Condition of service is a product of a long time agitation that should not be tampered with as it guarantees an independent and consolidated service as guaranteed by National Assembly Service Commission Act (2014).
