19th November, 2010
Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA) were locked out of their offices on Thursday by workers of the Assembly, protesting non-payment of their dressing allowances.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesting workers, who resumed work after the Sallah festivities, wearing mournful looks and clad in black dresses to demonstrate their plights, began a sit-down strike, locking all entrances to the Assembly Complex.
“No one should blame us for going this far, we are left with no option,’’ Mr. Jack Bature, the Chairman of the PLHA workers told NAN.
Bature said that the authorities had pushed the workers to the wall, leaving them with no option.
“They (authorities) have been deceiving us with endless promises over the payment of the dressing allowances since January.
“When we protested two weeks ago, they promised to pay us on Friday Nov. 12. That day had since passed,’’ he said.
But a miffed Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly, Mr. Istifanus Mwansat, debunked the claims of the workers, describing their action as “unfortunate and illegal.’’
“A work-to-rule action, by labour law, does not give them the right to lock up the gates against legislators and others who want to do their legitimate work.
“I think the workers are taking this issue too far. In fact, no one is even certain if what they are fighting for is legitimate.
“The year 2010 has not ended, so I wonder why the workers should embark on such a protest, I bet you that it will do no one any good.’’
The Speaker, who described the workers’ action as condemnable,’’stated that efforts were being made to address their plight.
“We are already doing something about their complaints but we cannot continue such efforts if the gates are locked,’’ he said.
“We were elected by the people of Plateau State to represent them and I wonder why they (workers) should obstruct our functions.’’
The Clerk of the House, Mrs. Helen Chindusu, who also reacted, said that discussion had “commenced in earnest towards solving the problem’’.
Chindusu appealed to the striking workers to consider the good working relationship they had enjoyed over the years and give room for more dialogue. (NAN)