Delta State Legislature Staff Embark on Indefinite Strike Over Unfulfilled Promises

The staff of the Delta State Legislature, under the umbrella of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), have embarked on an indefinite strike.

A visit to the Delta State Assembly complex on Thursday morning revealed that the gates were locked.

The workers are protesting the governor’s alleged failure to implement key campaign promises, accusing him of being indifferent to their legitimate welfare demands.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had pledged to implement the Staff Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) upon assuming office.

However, one year later, the promise remains unfulfilled, leading to widespread disappointment and frustration among the assembly staff.

Before the strike action, the Delta State Assembly staff held a meeting on Tuesday at the assembly complex and issued a communiqué.

The communiqué, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, was signed by the state chairman of PASAN, Emmanuel Edozie, and the secretary, Emmanuel Osubor.

Copies were also sent to all directors, the National President of PASAN, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, the Director of DSS in Delta State, and the chairman of the NLC in the state, among others.

The communiqué recalled how an earlier strike scheduled for February 28, 2024, was suspended following the intervention of the Conference of Speakers and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

This intervention was meant to allow for the full implementation of financial autonomy, payment of CONLESS, the establishment of the House of Assembly Service Commission in states that have not passed the law, and other issues affecting the legislature.

“The two weeks appeal given to us by the Speaker to allow a committee set up by His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, 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 its 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 of their entitlements and a sign that they lack the political will to pay,” the communiqué stated.

The communiqué further expressed displeasure that other issues raised during the meeting on March 28, 2024, including training, funding of the DTHA clinic, and regularization of casual staff, have not been addressed or given attention after two months.

“Congress have exercised enough patience, restraint 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,” it stated.

Arising from the above, the congress resolved to resume the suspended industrial action indefinitely from Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

The communiqué noted that the strike action would only be suspended if approval and subsequent payment of CONLESS to staff and other enumerated issues are addressed.

Delta State Speaker Guwor, who met with the leadership of PASAN, appealed to the workers to call off the strike.

He described the strike action as unfortunate and worrisome, noting that the issue at stake had nothing to do with owing salaries, as the state government is up to date with payments to its employees across various arms of government.

The Speaker disclosed that the main issue of agitation is the implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Scheme (CONLESS) in Delta State, which centers on an enhanced salary structure for the workers.

“The workers chose to commence the industrial action on the break of the first year in office of the State Governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, when Deltans were celebrating God’s grace upon the state and the milestones achieved by the Governor within just a year,” Guwor lamented.