The support staff of the National Assembly have made a new demand for better welfare package with a four-day warning strike which began with a protest at the Assembly premises Monday morning.
The decision to renew their protest was taken on Friday, at a meeting on the platform of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), where the body issued a four-day warning strike notice to commence on Monday, December 17.
Chairman of the association, Mr. Bature Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja at the weekend said the decision was reached at an emergency congress held on December 14.
President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to present the 2019 Appropriation bill to the joint National Assembly on Wednesday, December 19.
Mohammed said that the warning strike which would run till Dec. 20, was to press home the demands of the association.
The chairman advised that all members of the association should stay away from their duty posts during the period.
Members of PASAN had on December 4 shut down operations at the National Assembly when they prevented lawmakers from sitting.
The grievances of PASAN include a new condition of service for members, promotion and payment of 28 per cent increment in salary captured as contained in the 2018 budget.
Meanwhile, at about 10am, the union leaders forced workers on duty at the Engineering Department to cut off power supply to the complex.
Not quite 30 minutes later,all the banks, telecommunication offices, restaurants, other supporting staff ,including the Radio Nigeria studio within the complex closed down and their workers departed and seen trekking the long way back to the car park wearing long faces.
Meanwhile, a number of members that sneaked into White were asked to leave in their own interest.