The acting leadership of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Abia State chapter, has distanced itself from a 7-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission over the recent transfer of three staff members.
The transfer of Abia PASAN Chairman, Sunday Kalu, and two colleagues, Ugochukwu Ucheka and Joseph Okwudiri, prompted the NLC ultimatum.
Reacting to the development, the acting PASAN leadership rejected the ultimatum, saying the NLC did not consult the association or obtain its consent before issuing it.
In a statement, acting Chairman Anthony Nwaobilor and Public Relations Officer Loveday Adiele warned the Abia NLC against actions that could trigger industrial unrest in the Abia State House of Assembly.
According to the acting leadership, PASAN held a congress to replace officers who had proceeded on leave, during which former Vice Chairman Anthony Nwaobilor was elected acting Chairman.
PASAN stated that the election of the acting executive followed its constitution and should not attract undue interference from the NLC state council.
“The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Abia State chapter shall resist any attempt by the NLC, Abia State chapter or any other person or group to distort the peace and cause industrial disharmony in the Abia State House of Assembly,” the association said.
The acting executive also announced the immediate suspension of the state treasurer, Nneoma Johnson, and directed her to hand over her duties to the Financial Secretary.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abia State, Okoro Ogbonnaya, reaffirmed the 7-day ultimatum to the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission and condemned the transfer of the three parliamentary staff.Ogbonnaya criticized the acting PASAN executive for rejecting the ultimatum, alleging that the affected staff were uncompromisingly fighting for the welfare of all PASAN members before their transfer to other offices.