By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN – Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Uyi Igbe, and other members of the House, were locked out, yesterday, by staff of the Assembly, who were protesting the non-payment of July salary and alleged exclusion from the new minimum wage.

The angry workers sat in front of the gate after locking all exit gates from the Assembly complex.

The aggrieved workers, under the Parliamentary Staff Association, had stormed the complex as early as 7:35am, and accused the leadership of the House of alleged plot to scheme them out of the N18, 000 wage deal. The workers also accused the House of denying them promotion.

Chairman of the association, Mr. Adebo Andrew, told  newsmen: “We are, however, surprised that our vouchers sent to the Accountant-General’s office were returned, only to be informed that we are not in the catchments area for the implementation of the new minimum wage.

“The question we are asking is this, ‘where do we belong?’ The 2001 law setting up the state House of Assembly Commission allows the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, to fix salaries and allowances for staff of the state Assembly.

“Part 2 Section 10 of the  Constitution provides that the remuneration of staff of the Edo State House of Assembly shall be as determined by RMAFC in the case of the Clerk or as obtainable in the state civil service in the case of others. We rightly belong to the category of others.”