Industrial crisis looms in Abia as PASAN leadership, NLC clash over 7-day ultimatum

The acting leadership of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Abia State chapter has distanced itself from a 7-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission over the recent posting out of three staff members to other offices.

The posting out of Abia PASAN Chairman, Sunday Kalu and two of his colleagues, Ugochukwu Ucheka and Joseph Okwudiri, had attracted the 7-day ultimatum from the NLC.

But reacting to the Abia NLC’s ultimatum, the acting leadership of PASAN in the State, rejected the ultimatum, saying that the NLC did not consult or got its consent before issuing such ultimatum.

The acting Chairman of PASAN, Anthony Nwaobilor and the Public Relations Officer, Loveday Adiele in a statement on the matter, warned the NLC, Abia State chapter, against taking any action that may ignite industrial crises in the Abia State House of Assembly.

According to the acting PASAN leadership, a Congress of the association was held to replace the former staff of the Abia State House of Assembly who had proceeded on leave, during which the former Vice Chairman, Anthony Nwaobilor was elected as the acting Chairman.

The parliamentary staff association of Nigeria stated that the election of the acting leadership was in line with its constitution and should not be attracting undue interference from the NLC State council.

“The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) Abia State ,chapter shall resist any attempt by either the NLC, Abia State chapter or any other person/group to distort the peace and cause industrial disharmony in the Abia State House of Assembly”, the association said.

The acting PASAN executive further announced the immediate suspension of the treasurer of PASAN in the State, Nneoma Johnson and directed her to hand over her roles to the Financial Secretary.

But reaffirming NLC’s 7-day ultimatum to the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, Abia State, Okoro Ogbonnaya condemned the posting out of the three parliamentary staff.

The NLC Chairman berated the acting PASAN executive for rejecting the ultimatum, alleged that three parliamentary staff that were posted out of Abia State House of Assembly, were uncompromisingly fighting for the general welfare of the entire PASAN members before they were posted to other offices.