Status of House of Assembly Service Commission: PASAN frowns, gives DTHA leadership 2-week ultimatum to address 8-point demand

Rt. Hon. Sherif Oborevwori, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly.

The Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) is in the throes of a major labour crisis following a two-week ultimatum handed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sherif Oborevwori, Principal Officers of the Assembly, the members and management of the Assembly within which to address issues of serious concern raised by the workers.

The workers’ ultimatum is contained in a communiqué dated October 4^th, 2019 and issued by the Delta State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) arising from its Congress meeting held at the Press Centre, DTHA, Okpanam Road, Asaba.

The communiqué signed by the PASAN Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Edozie and Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Osubor expressed displeasure at leadership lapses at the Assembly, that has among other things, culminated in the “poor working relationship existing between the leadership/ management of DTHA and the Delta State House of Assembly Service Commission (HASC), stating that it is dissatisfied with the inability of the leadership of theHouse to include the HASC in the autonomy law.

The PASAN communiqué addressed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, with copies to all principal officers of the Assembly, all members of the House of Assembly reads in full:

COMMUNIQUE

Arising from the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) General Meeting which held October 3^rd, 2019, at the Press Centre, DTHA, Asaba, Congress made the following observations and resolutions:

1.      Congress expresses displeasure over the poor state of most facilities in the complex (toilet facilities, leaking roof in all the buildings, lack of adequate furniture and equipment for staff, etc).

2.      Congress is displeased with the poor sanitary condition within and outside the Assembly complex which have led to influx of mosquitoes, rodents, scorpions and other reptiles thereby making the office environment unhealthy. Congress therefore requests for immediate cleaning and evacuation of all debris and fumigation of the entire Assembly complex.

3.      Congress observed and frowns at the poor state of the Assembly‘s Clinic and the inconsistency on the part of management to provide funds for the purchase of drugs despite its yearly budgetary provision.

4.      Congress notes and is highly displeased with the poor working relationship existing between the leadership/management of DTHA and HASC.

5.      Congress is dissatisfied with the inability of the leadership of the House to include HASC in the autonomy law.

6.      Congress expresses displeasure over the non-impact of the autonomy on staff of the Legislature since inception.

7.      Congress notes that the present office accommodation of the HASC is not spacious, remote and not conducive for staff. Hence, Congress demands that the HASC should be relocated and given a better accommodation to allow for conducive working environment.

8.      Congress calls on Mr. Speaker and the Leadership of the House to take responsibility by not allowing or subjecting the HASC Budget to the scrutiny and confirmation of the Ministry of Economic Planning while that of the DTHA is not, as this amounts to double standard, a situation which negates the principle of autonomy as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

Resolution

In view of the above observations, Congress calls on the leadership of the House to, as a matter of urgency, address the matters contained in this communiqué within two weeks from the date of receipt, else Congress will resort to other legal means to press home her demands.