Strike: Senate President, Lawan, Begs Protesting NASS Workers

 Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has pleaded with the striking workers of the National Assembly to call off their industrial action and embrace dialogue for speedy resolution of the disputes.

Lawan, according to a statement by his media aide, Ola Awoniyi, made the appeal at a meeting which he summoned to find a way out of the lingering issues between the workers and the management of the National Assembly.

Workers of the National Assembly under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) had embarked on an indefinite strike from Monday to press home their demands for payment of some allowances.

At the meeting, Lawan said, “I want to urge you, whenever we disagree, let’s try to come and sit and talk about it because when we talk, we are able to find some common grounds and solutions. I am very happy that we have been able to deal with this.”

In attendance at the meeting, according to the statement, were the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi and the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sabi Abdullahi

The National Assembly management was represented by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Ojo Olatunde and Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission, Ahmed Amshi and some top officials of the National Assembly.

It added that the President of PASAN, Mohammed Usman also led his other colleagues who are officials of PASAN.

After the two sides had narrated their positions on the disputes, the Senate President assured the workers that he would reach out to the relevant authorities that would facilitate the speedy resolution of the issues involved.

The President of PASAN in his final response, said he would communicate the outcome of the meeting to his other colleagues who are members of PASAN.