Strike: Parliamentary workers shut down Bauchi Assembly

Legislative business has been paralysed at the Bauchi State House of Assembly following a nationwide strike by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria.

The workers downed tools to demand financial autonomy for the states’ legislatures.

Chairman of the association in the state, Mr Adamu Yusuf, said this on Friday in Bauchi.

He said that their members joined the strike in compliance with the directives of the national leadership of the association.

He said the action aims to compel the Federal Government to implement the Financial Autonomy Act, a critical step towards strengthening parliamentary independence and deepening democratic governance.

“PASAN has embarked on various strikes in the past to push for the enforcement of the law, but the Federal Government is yet to fully implement it,” he said.

According to Yusuf, the industrial action is a collective stand by the state chapters of the association to intensify pressure for the long-awaited reform.

He said the workers embarked on the strike as a last resort after exhausting avenues for dialogue and negotiations with the relevant government agencies.

Yusuf, however, commended Gov. Bala Mohammed for his commitment toward ensuring financial autonomy for the state legislature.

“This is a commendable step that aligns with the broader national demand for legislative independence,” he said.

PASAN is the trade union representing workers in Nigeria’s legislative arms, including staff of state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly.

The union frequently leads industrial actions to press for better conditions of service—such as implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), payment of outstanding allowances, and establishment of legislative service commissions—and to demand full financial and administrative autonomy for state legislatures.

In recent years, PASAN has organised several nationwide or multi-state strikes that shut down state assemblies, with its actions often tied to enforcing constitutional provisions on legislative autonomy and improving the welfare of parliamentary workers.

NAN