By Festus Ahon

ASABA—PEEVED by the seeming unwillingness of the state government to meet their demands, members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Delta State chapter, yesterday locked members of the State House of Assembly.

The protesting staff who locked the two entrance gates to the Assembly complex, said they were proceeding on indefinite strike pending when their demands were met.

The gate was however opened few hours later by security operatives who were drafted in.

Addressing newsmen, Chairman of PASAN in the state, Emmanuel Edozie, said the workers would not go back to work until their demands were met.

Edozie alleged that apart from the non-payment of imprest and running cost,  his members were receiving very poor medical attention at the Assembly clinic.

He said: “Since February 2016, there is no single drugstore at the Assembly clinic, and this is affecting the staff. In the past two months, we have lost about four of our members. What is happening is not good for the system. We said at least, let some drugs be provided, they refused. Again, one doctor cannot service the Assembly staff, the members, their relatives and the Assembly Service Commission. So, we need another doctor.

“Appointment of a Deputy Clerk is another problem. Since the Deputy Clerk retired last year, the vacuum has not been filled. And there is a law passed by the same House for that position. We need a Deputy Clerk, who is a staff and not a politician.”