NASS Protests: Saraki, Dogara Intervene In Situation

Senate President Bukola Saraki and speaker of the house, Yakubu Dogara have both stepped in to end the protests that rocked the National Assembly yesterday.

Staff member denied lawmakers entry into the premises protesting the non-implementation of Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), enforcement of promotion and training of staff.

Saraki, therefore, directed that the National Assembly Management Committee resolve the issue and report their findings.

The Senate President and the Speaker had both tried to pacify the crowd to no avail as they were roundly booed.

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Mr Saraki’s special adviser on media and publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, then released a statement explaining what the Senate President had in mind to do

The statement read in part: “The leadership of the National Assembly made it clear to the staff that the issues raised by them were previously unknown to the legislators and that even if they were known to the Senate President and the Speaker, the leadership could do little to address them because they fall under the purview of the NASS’s Management. They added that the constitution of the National Assembly Service Commission which the workers demanded will be made before Friday.

“The workers demanded for the implementation of the CONLESS system in the payment of their salaries and allowances, approval of new condition of service for the workers, among other issues. However, Dr. Saraki and Rt. Hon. Dogara, as well as their colleagues also reassured the workers that they will personally supervise how the management will eventually resolve the issues and ensure that the workers are not short-changed,”