By Tom Moses

Workers in the employ of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly yesterday commenced a three-day warning strike to compel the state government to honour the agreement it reached with the union on the payment and implementation of new consolidated salary structure. The aggrieved workers numbering over 100, blocked the entrance to the House of Assembly gate with fresh plantain leaves and other objects to prevent visitors from going into the Assembly complex.

The workers who also chanted anti-government war songs lambasted the government for paying lip service to the welfare of members of the union.

Speaking at the scene the Akwa-Ibom State Chairman of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr. Kufre-Abasi Aderi explained that the union decided to embark on the strike after the expiration of 21 days’ ultimatum it gave to the government.

The PASAN chairman complained that the lawmakers had refused to look into the demands and plights of the workers even after series of meetings and agreements between them and the union.

He listed the workers’ demands to include non-payment of out-fit allowance and non-implementation of new consolidated salary schemes.

Aderi also bemoaned the poor and unhygienic working condition at the Assembly complex, saying it needed an overhaul.

“Consequent upon these, the entire staff of the state House of Assembly after due consultation, unanimously declared three day warning strike from yesterday,” he said.

He stated that after the 3-day warning strike, if the government rebuffed the requests of the workers, they would embark on an indefinite industrial action to press home their demands.

“We are all human beings.Despite many appeals and overtures, the lawmakers have shown that they are very insensitive to our plights.

“We, therefore, have to shut down the complex to press home our demands”, he stressed.

The Speaker of the House, Mr. Sam Ikon could however not be reached for comments on the vexed issues raised by the Assembly workers just as other principal staff were out of reach.