The management of the National Assembly has raised the alarm over plot by some staff to disrupt legislative activities upon resumption of plenary on Tuesday.

Some ‘Concerned’ Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) members’ have served a notice of peaceful picketing of the complex beginning from Tuesday October 7, 2025.

Senators and House of Representatives members are expected to resume plenary session on Tuesday after their eight week annual vacation.

But executive of the PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, have dissociated the union from the planned picketing/protest being organized some of its members.

The management of the National Assembly said the planned picketing apart from its potential to disrupt legislative activities would constitute a threat to national security.

Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development, Essien Eyo Essien, who disclosed this in an internal circular he issued on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Kamoru Ogunlana, called on all staff to ignore any “calls for industrial action, including “work-to-rule’ or ‘unlawful picketing.”

He equally enjoined the ‘Concerned PASAN Members’ to refrain from proceeding with their planned protest, “as failure to do so may result in severe disciplinary action.”

The circular reads in part: “The Management attention has been drawn to the online activities of Messrs Odo Chris (GL 13, Senate) and Abiola Yusuf Mohammed (GL 9, Human Resources Directorate) that appear to be collaborating with anonymous individuals within and outside the National Assembly, masquerading as ‘Concerned PASAN MEMBERS.‘

“Security report at our disposal disclose that these persons are mobilizing and inciting staff to engage in an unlawful action termed “picketing.”

“If this plan is carried out, it is capable of disrupting legislative activities which in our opinion constitutes threat to National security.

“According to reports, these persons claim that their agitation is aimed at compelling the Management to disband the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (NASS Chapter) and to improve staff welfare.

“It is important to clarify that this agitation has persisted for years and has been characterized by disruptive behaviour, misinformation, and deliberate attempts to destabilize our internal harmony.

“Despite repeated engagements with these persons by the present Management to resolve their concerns, (which has to do with internal union-related issues), amicably, all efforts have been rebuffed under the pretext that Management should not interfere in Union activities.

“These same group and their cohorts, under the guise of “Concerned PASAN Members,” have persistently authored frivolous petitions, alleging mismanagement of union dues and other unsubstantiated claims.

“Management is concerned that the tolerance of these persons over the years has given the impression that they can take laws into their hands without any consequence.

“If they are allowed to continue their illegal activities including their planned ‘picketing’ of National Assembly, the resumption of the National Assembly on the 7th of October and legislative activities may be disrupted.

“In light of recent developments, the Management hereby instruct all Staff to ignore any calls for industrial action, including “work-to-rule’ or ‘unlawful picketing.

“Your safety and security within the National Assembly Complex are assured and we urge you to proceed with your official duties without any fear or intimidation.

“On this note, the Management directs the self-styled ‘Concerned PASAN Members’ to refrain from proceeding with their planned protest, as failure to do so may result in severe disciplinary action.”

However, in a letter titled: “Notifications of peaceful picketing” signed by Comrade Chris MC-Odo, Comrade Yusuf Muhammad Abiola and Comrade Chinenye Peace Ndu, and addressed to the CNA, dated October 3, 2025, the Concerned PASAN Members vowed to carry out their planned picketing of the complex to drive home their demands.

They said that the picketing has become necessary to communicate their demands to the political leadership of the National Assembly and the world.

They listed some of their demands to include correction of short payments of members’ salaries and allowances, remittance of statutory deductions to appropriate authorities, alleged diversion of funds for training and retraining of all members of staff, full implementation of Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), and the full implementation of the financial aspect of the Conditions of Service (CoS) in the National Assembly Service.

Others include the implementation of the 40% consolidated peculiar allowance from January 2023 till date as approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari, for the Federal Public and Civil servants, among others.

The letter reads in part: “Aggrieved by your actions and inaction as enumerated above, we members of PASAN National Assembly Chapter in exercise of our rights under Section 39 &40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) and Section 43(1) of the Trade Union Act, 2004, hereby convey to you our notification to peacefully picket the National Assembly beginning from Tuesday 7th October, 2025, with a view to communicating our demands to the political leadership and for the entire world to know the extent of your oppressive and tendencies.”

However, the executive of the PASAN, National Assembly Chapter, has dissociated the union from the planned picketing/protest being organized some of its members.

The Chairman of PASAN, Comrade Sunday Sabiyyi, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

The statement reads in part: “I am writing on behalf of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to dissociate our Union from the picketing/protest that is purportedly being planned, as published on a WhatsApp Platform named, NASS Forum.

“We would like to make it clear that PASAN, as the only registered and legitimate staff union in the National Assembly, is not in any way involved in the organization of this protest.

“We have received information that this group of individuals plans to picket/protest within the National Assembly complex, raising issues that they claim have not been addressed by the management.

“We would like to state that the issues in question have been substantially complied with by the Management of the National Assembly.

“In addition, PASAN has set up a committee to look into the grey arrears and present a report for further action. This committee is actively discussing with the management to resolve any outstanding issues.

“Therefore, we strongly advise all PASAN members to remain on their duty post and go about their legitimate business within the complex.

“We do not support or condone any form of protest or picketing that disrupts the functioning of the National Assembly. Such actions only serve to create a negative image of our esteemed institution and hinder the smooth operation of our duties.

“We trust that the National Assembly management will take necessary measures to investigate and ensure that protest and picketing by the so called ‘Concerned Staff’ group is not allowed to take place within the premises of the National Assembly complex.

“We also urge the management to communicate this message to all staff members, emphasizing the need to uphold the dignity and professionalism of our institution.” (The Nation)

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