Aggrieved workers of the Osun State House of Assembly under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, on Tuesday, put the complex under lock and key in protest against the refusal of the state government to grant financial autonomy to the state judiciary.
The parliamentary staff carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Governor Adeleke Obey the Constitution”, “No Financial Autonomy No Retreat”, ” Staff Welfare is Not Negotiable “, ” Full Implementation of Financial Autonomy for the of Assembly our Demand ” amongst others.
The Chairman, PASAN Osun State, Akeem Adesina who led other executives to address the newsmen at the assembly complex, Gbongan/Ibadan road, Osogbo noted that the action was in strict compliance with the directive of the national secretariat.
Adesina explained that Osun State Government had acceded to 90 per cent of the chapter’s demands but frowned at the position of some state governments across the nation on financial autonomy of the State Houses of Assembly.
He confirmed that the issue at hand is a constitutional matter which must be dealt with accordingly.
The chairman implored members to comply with the directive to foster the development of state legislatures.
Addressing newsmen, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Osun State House of Assembly, Adekunle Oladimeji noted that the issue is general and not limited to Osun.
Oladimeji confirmed that the Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun had met the PASAN executives on the issue.
He added that the financial autonomy would further strengthen the activities of the legislative arm of government to serve as checks to other arms of government.
Also addressing journalists, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Olamide Tiamiyu, who said that the legislators were in support of the strike action, stressed that the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke and the leadership of the 8th Assembly of Osun State remained committed to workers’ welfare.
