The Senate Majority Leader, Ahmad Lawan, has appealed to his fellow lawmakers to pay National Assembly workers, saying since the chamber requires services of dedicated persons, the workers must be motivated.
Lawan said this at the Tuesday Plenary as the Senate reviewed the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service on the Conditions of Service for National Assembly Staff.
Earlier in the month, members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria had picketed the Senate and House of Representatives in protest against non-implementation of the Consolidated Salary Structure and unpaid allowances.
Senator Emmanuel Paulker presented the report at the Plenary on Tuesday, while Senator Gbenga Ashafa seconded the motion asking the Senate to consider the report.
The news was contained in a series of tweets via the Senate’s verified Twitter handle @NGRSenate,
Lawan noted that the passage of the Bill was something the National Assembly agreed with the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria to do, to stop the PAN from picketing the chamber.
“We should motivate those that work for us. I believe it is time to tell Nigerians the truth,” Lawan argued.
He added, “The truth is that National Assembly is a place that requires dedicated people and these people must be paid in order for this to happen.
“I am happy we are looking into this Bill. Let us ensure that those who work for us are properly paid, motivated and cared for.”
In response, Senate President Bukola Saraki promised, “We have undersigned. We have given our commitment that we always want an environment that is suitable for our staff and we won’t go back on our word.
“We have shown truly that the Senate is on the side of our staff and as such, we want to encourage that they always leave room for dialogue.”
The committee report was subsequently approved.
