Lack of autonomy: PASAN shutdown Gombe Assembly

From Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe

The state chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has shut down the Gombe state House of Assembly, in compliance with the nationwide strike of the Association.

The Association has on Monday Shutdown the Assembly in respect of the directives from the mother union for not granting autonomy to the state assembly

Briefing the newsmen at the main gate of the state Assembly, the state chairman of the Association Mohammed Bello Dukku said the measure is the only option considering the fact that the Federal Government failed to obey section 121 (3a) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which pave way for the legislative autonomy.

In a statement signed by the Chief Information Officer of the Assembly Umaru Ma’aji, stated that the Assembly would remain closed indefinitely and all staff of the Assembly to remain at home.

According to a statement the state secretary of the Association Aminu Aliyu Swap, added that the closure of the state Assembly is in line with the directives given by the mother union in response to the failure of the federal government to implement the financial autonomy granted to the houses of Assembly by the then President Mohammadu Buhari nationwide, despite several meetings.

Also in an interview with a member of the union and a staff of the Assembly Solomon Livinus said they support the strike, even though negotiations are still ongoing but they would remain at home.

Members of the Association in their hundred seen carried placards with different slogans of autonomy is the right of the Assembly, and chanting  solidarity songs.