NASS workers protest unpaid salaries, police quiz five

The National Assembly was on Wednesday thrown into rowdy atmosphere following protest by staff of the Assembly over non-payment of salary arrears and allowances.

This followed the rejection of the 60 per cent third quarter allocation the Federal Government had released to meet its obligation to the workers.
The protesters, who converged at the lobby of the National Assembly to begin the protest, were, however, repelled by the combined forces of security operatives at the complex.
Also five senior legislative aides were arrested and requested to give written statements by officials of the State Security Service (SSS) and the police, but it was not clear whether they would be detained or release, as they were still being held as at the time of filling this report.
Aside the workers, it was also gathered that senators are equally being owed four months salary arrears and allowances.
However, Daily Independent learnt that the situation had increased friction between the lawmakers and the PDP-led Federal Government, especially the Ministry of Finance, which is being accused of being responsible for cash crunch at the NASS.
Officially, no reason was advanced for the delay in the payment of the salaries and allowances, but Daily Independent learnt that the falling oil prices might be responsible. Crude oil price has dropped from $102 two months ago to around $82 per barrel.
Some staff of the NASS asserted that the decision to starve the National Assembly of funds, including failure to pay the salaries and allowances of lawmakers, could be to deny them funds ahead of the primaries.
It was also learnt from some legislators, particularly in the lower chamber, who would not want to be quoted, that the decision to owe both the NASS staff and those of them in the lower chamber, was a deliberate fallout from the lingering crisis between the House, following the defection of Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, from the PDP.
The police authority had on Tuesday held a marathon meeting with the leadership of the workers, who promised to shelve the protest but were surprised to see a breach of what they thought was an agreement.