The management of the National Assembly has cautioned aggrieved parliamentary workers against staging any protest or picketing within the complex as lawmakers prepare to resume plenary on Tuesday.
The warning follows threats by members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to embark on industrial action over alleged unresolved welfare and constitutional issues affecting staff.
In a circular issued on Sunday by the Secretary of Human Resources and Staff Development, Essien Eyo Essien, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the management stated that any attempt to disrupt legislative proceedings would attract severe disciplinary sanctions.
Essien stressed that membership of PASAN or any union remained voluntary, advising dissatisfied members to withdraw in line with established procedures.
He explained that within seven months of assuming office, the current management had introduced several administrative reforms aimed at improving staff morale and institutional efficiency.
“In light of recent developments, management hereby directs all staff to disregard any call for industrial action, including ‘work-to-rule’ or ‘unlawful picketing’. Your safety and security within the National Assembly Complex are assured. We urge you to continue your official duties without fear or intimidation,” the circular read in part.
The management further warned a group of self-styled “Concerned PASAN Members” against proceeding with their planned protest, noting that any defiance would lead to “severe disciplinary action”.
The circular reiterated the management’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the overall well-being of staff.
However, the warning came on the heels of a petition by some “Concerned PASAN Members” dated October 3, 2025, and addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, accusing management of harassment and intimidation of union members demanding accountability and compliance with the PASAN Constitution (2015).
The petition, jointly signed by M.C. Odo, Yusuf Mohammed Abiola, and Chinenye Peace Nda, alleged that workers were being queried and threatened with suspension for insisting on the presentation of audited accounts before the congress, as stipulated in the union’s constitution.
Citing constitutional provisions, the group accused union executives of failing to prepare annual budgets, circulate audited financial statements, and ensure proper remittance of statutory deductions. They also condemned what they described as management’s interference in union matters and the recognition of executives previously removed by the congress, calling it a breach of due process and internal democracy.
Beyond union grievances, the workers listed a series of welfare demands, including the correction of salary shortfalls, full implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), payment of various allowances—rent subsidy, leave, hazard, and medicals—and implementation of the 40 per cent consolidated peculiar allowance approved in 2023 for federal workers.
Other demands include the provision of official vehicles for directorate staff, staff buses for junior employees, and comprehensive training programmes for capacity development.
They also urged the management to commence the implementation of the National Assembly Service Pension Board (Establishment) Act, 2023, as well as apply the new minimum wage with its consequential adjustments.
As tension heightens ahead of Tuesday’s plenary, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the National Assembly management addresses the grievances, which many say could determine whether legislative activities resume smoothly or face disruption at the nation’s lawmaking hub.
