THE management of the National Assembly has cautioned aggrieved members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) against embarking on any form of protest or disruption of legislative activities as lawmakers resume plenary on Tuesday after their annual recess.
Senators and members of the House of Representatives are set to reconvene following a break that began on July 23, 2025. However, tension has been brewing within the National Assembly complex over threats by some PASAN members to stage a protest in pursuit of their unresolved welfare and constitutional grievances.
In a circular issued by the Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development, Essien Eyo Essien, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana obtained by News Point Nigeria, the management warned that any attempt to obstruct plenary or disrupt normal proceedings would attract severe disciplinary measures.
“It must be emphasised that membership of PASAN or any union is entirely voluntary. Any staff member, whether an executive or regular member, who is dissatisfied with the conduct of union affairs may freely withdraw their membership in accordance with established rules,”
the circular stated.
The circular directed all staff to ignore any calls for industrial action, including “work-to-rule” or “unlawful picketing,” assuring them of safety and security within the National Assembly complex.
“Your safety and security within the National Assembly Complex are assured, and we urge you to proceed with your official duties without any fear or intimidation,” it added.
Essien further directed the self-styled Concerned PASAN Members to desist from their planned protest, stressing that defiance would result in disciplinary sanctions.
The circular also highlighted that within seven months of assuming office, the current management had initiated wide-ranging administrative reforms aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and staff welfare.
“Finally, the management remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the overall well-being of staff,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, a faction within PASAN, under the banner of Concerned PASAN Members, has accused the National Assembly management of harassment and intimidation of union leaders and members demanding accountability and adherence to the association’s constitution.
In a petition dated October 3, 2025, signed by M.C. Odo, Yusuf Mohammed Abiola, and Chinenye Peace Nda, and addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly, the group alleged that workers were being queried, threatened, and suspended for insisting on financial transparency.
They claimed the management had failed to address long-standing welfare concerns, including:
Correction of salary shortfalls,
Remittance of statutory deductions (tax, pension, and housing fund),
Full implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure, and
Payment of allowances covering rent subsidy, leave, hazard, and medical benefits.
The petition also demanded the implementation of the 40% Consolidated Peculiar Allowance approved in 2023 for federal workers, provision of official vehicles for directorate-level staff, staff buses for junior cadres, and training templates for capacity development.
Other demands include the enforcement of the National Assembly Service Pension Board (Establishment) Act, 2023, and the immediate application of the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustments.
The petitioners also cited constitutional provisions mandating PASAN executives to prepare annual budgets, circulate audited financial statements, and ensure compliance with financial regulations, arguing that management interference undermines internal democracy.
They criticised the alleged recognition of executive officers previously removed by Congress, describing it as a violation of due process and an affront to the union’s constitution.