Nation
Lawmakers Postpone Resumption As Workers Shut National Assembly Over Unpaid Salaries
National Assembly workers, under the auspices of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) on Monday shut down activities at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, forcing lawmakers to make a U-turn as banks, restaurants and others were forced to close.
The workers had, during their protest that began in the early hours of Monday, blocked the main entrance to the premises with a bus, while they danced to music from a disc jockey stationed in the middle of the road.
The Tide observed that power and water supplies to the buildings were cut, thereby crippling activities.
PASAN had on Sunday announced the commencement of an indefinite strike by its members over non-payment of a backlog of salaries and allowances by the management.
It issued the strike notice in a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Hammed Awobifa.
On Monday, the workers besieged the second gate to the complex, blocking and occupying the road.
Lawmakers, workers and journalists, among others, were prevented from driving into the premises. People were only allowed to walk into the building.
The protest, which began around 6am, lasted till about 4.30pm.
During the protest, the workers alleged that the NASS management insisted it would not implement any allowances, including the leave grant already paid in the last two years, unless it obtains approval or ratification from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Efforts by the Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development of the National Assembly, Suraj Oladoyin, who came to address the protesting workers on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Ojo, proved abortive.
Oladoyin, who was booed and interjected by the crowd, tried to persuade the angry protesters to continue negotiations with the management. They, however, replied to him with an uproar, chanting, “All we want are credit alerts, we are tired of talking”.
The Chairman of PASSAN, National Assembly chapter, Sunday Sabiyi, who tried to calm the situation, said the executives were also tired of the back and forth over the issue.
The protesters left the gate at about 5pm, with the leadership of PASAN asking the workers to resume protest on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Senate and the House of Representatives have postponed resumption of plenary till next week due to the presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Clerk of the House, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, made this known in a notice issued on Monday.
It read, “Please be informed that the two chambers of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) have jointly postponed resumption of plenary from tomorrow, June 7, to Tuesday, June 14, 2022, due to the ongoing APC party convention. All inconveniences are regretted”.
Nation
Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.