The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Abia State chapter, has alleged that the members of Abia State House of Assembly forcibly gained entrance into the Assembly complex by breaking the keys used in locking the gates.
They alleged that the member representing the Isuikwuato constituency, Lucky Johnson, and another legislator from Abia Central, used a hamner and other metal objects to break the keys, in order to enable lawmakers to gain entrance into the complex.
The drama took place on Tuesday during the ongoing strike action embarked by PASAN members to demand the payment of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure, CONLESS.
Addressing journalists inside the Assembly complex on Tuesday, Abia State Chairman of PASAN, Kalu Sunday, alleged that the lives and welfare of his members were in danger because of the actions of the Abia House of Assembly members.
He noted that the strike they began about two weeks ago was to press for the payment of the CONLESS as well as financial autonomy, as endorsed by the national body of the union.
According to him, previous meetings between the union and representatives of the Abia State government on the issue did not yield any result as the government refused to respond to requests.
Sunday condemned the actions of the legislators, adding that they also flooded the Assembly complex with policemen.
“We are already communicating with with the leadership of our union and also the Nigerian Labour Congress. You can see the security men here, so our lives are now in danger,” Sunday said.
When contacted to speak on behalf of the Abia State House of Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, Austin Okezie Meregini, said he would not make any statement as an executive session was about to commence.
The Deputy Speaker who is the House Committee Chairman on Information, also said that he was not sure when the session would end.
DAILY POST observed that a welder was working on the broken part of the Assembly complex gate on Tuesday afternoon.
Strike: PASAN members accuse Abia lawmakers of breaking Assembly gate with hammer
