From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Protesting workers of the Delta State House of Assembly, yesterday, engaged the Speaker, Monday Igbuya in a physical combat at the entrance to the Assembly complex.
The workers under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), on Monday began the protest by shutting all gates leading into the Assembly and vowed to continue the action until their welfare issues were addressed.
They had maintained their human barricade at the entrance of the complex located along Okpanam Road where Chairman of the union, Emmanuel Edozien reeled out their grievances before the arrival of the speaker’s convoy.
A member of the House had attempted to access the complex but was rebuffed by the workers. The lawmaker drove back his official car before the speaker speedily drove in, in an attempt to scare the protesters.
But the workers stood their ground with one of them simply identified as Buchi insisting that he “would rather die than for the speaker to enter his office.”
At that point, the speaker alighted from his Lexus Jeep and angrily told Buchi to clear from the way or risk being manhandled. Buchi refused to yield to the intimidation.
The angry speaker’s allegedly attempt to shove the apparently stubborn protester aside as he allegedly threw a punch at Buchi, who also retaliated.
It took the intervention of some lawmakers on the speaker’s convoy to calm frayed nerves. The two lawmakers, who intervened were Daniel Mayuku and Timi Tonye. They had to speak to the enraged speaker and the workers separately.
The Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Labour Relations, Mike Okeme who was contacted during the face-off, also rushed to the scene and joined in calming the charged atmosphere.
Okeme assured the workers that their demands have ben approved by the state government and appealed to them to call-off the strike and allow the speaker and other lawmakers access to the complex.
The workers yielded to the placating words of Okeme, who had also assured them the approval would soon start manifesting.
The workers, after a brief meeting, came up with a circular suspending the strike.
Apart from the non-payment of imprest and running costs, the workers had complained about poor medical attention at the Assembly clinic, which they claimed, lacked any drug store and inadequate medical personnel.
Besides, chairman of the union, said the House refused to appoint a deputy clerk since last year. He also alleged that the House has refused to move files of staff for the payment of outfit and special duty allowance to the governor for necessary action.
Edozie alleged that the House has also neglected certain aspects of deceased members of staff welfare, who died in active service, abandoned burial arrangements for those who died in active service to their bereaved family and relented in the payment of outstanding death benefits.