National Assembly workers have taken over the complex of the Assembly, preventing Senators from gaining access into the Chamber, over non-payment of salaries, chanting ‘no payment, no sitting’.
The National Assembly workers complained about the maltreatment they have been receiving from the Leadership of the National Assembly, saying their salaries, training, promotion and other entitlements are maliciously being delayed for reasons they do not know, while they kept working, since 2010.
The National Assembly workers as early as 8 am were all battle ready, as they gathered in their small groups, carrying banners and placards, complaining bitterly, while patiently waiting for Senators to resume.
On sighting the Senators, their chants and dancing got louder, as they barricaded the main entrance into the Chamber, so as to prevent members from gaining access.
The arrival of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, somehow, got the National Assembly workers protesting excited, not because Senator Ike Ekweemadu was there to address or see to their demands, but excited because as one of the principal officers, they are happy to prevent him from going into the Chamber.
His attempt to also used the opportunity to address them was useless, as the protesters will not have any of those, as their plan today, is to prevent members from sitting until the issues raised are properly addressed, and agreement reached.
This will not be the first time the National Assembly workers will be protesting, as a few months back they engaged members of the National Assembly on the same issue, and until now, nothing was heard about the whole thing. But hopefully, these issues are addressed so as to have peace in the Assembly.