The Taraba State House of Assembly is making frantic efforts to persuade its staff not to shut down the Assembly over unpaid seven years outfit allowance.
The NIGERIA STANDARD reports that last week, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Taraba State Chapter had issued a 7-day ultimatum following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum to the Taraba State government to offset the 7 years backlog of outfit allowances owed its members.
In the letter jointly signed by the Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Bala Yusuf and Secretary, Comrade Yahuda M. Atwen, dated 26th October 2022 and addressed to the Honourable Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, the workers warned that failure to address the matter before 4th November 2022 would result in an indefinite strike.
“A 7-day ultimatum is hereby issued starting from Wednesday 26th October to Friday 4th November 2022 for the state government to respond positively. After which the union may decide to embark upon an indefinite strike if no positive response is received,” the statement read.
But during plenary Monday, the Speaker came out publicly to announce for a meeting between the Assembly and the association which actually took place after the plenary session.
According to the Chairman of the association, the Speaker, Joseph Albasu Kunini, pleaded with the staff for time to interface with Governor Darius Ishaku on the matter.
He however maintained that the association still stands on the Friday November 4th, 2022, deadline for the allowances to be off set or else they will embark on strike.
Meanwhile, The NIGERIA STANDARD learnt that based on the official timetable, the Governor is billed to present the 2023 budget to the House on Monday 7th November 2022.
