Legislative Aides to members of the National Assembly yesterday staged a protest over the death of Hassan Abiodun, an aide attached to the office of Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun.
Abiodun was said to have died on June 9 at an Abuja hospital because he was unable to raise the N165,000 medical expenses.
The protester complained bitterly about alleged persistent delay in payment of their salaries and allowances.
Displaying obituary pictures of the deceased, the protesters went round the National Assembly lobby to register their displeasure over delayed payment of the salary and other entitlements..
One of the protesters, Dayo Faduba, told reporters that Abiodun might still have been alive if his salary was paid as at when due.
Faduba said that the deceased would have used his salary to pay his medical bill.
Faduba who read a prepared speech insisted that the delay in payment of salary of legislative aides had been common since the commencement of the 8th National Assembly.
Hassan is a victim of a flawed and unjust system and the unjust conditions of Aides in the National Assembly.”
The aides wondered why the National Assembly management moved their salary account from a conventional commercial bank to a microfinance bank.
Faduba said: “From all indications, it is manifest that the bank does not have the capacity and infrastructure to handle the volume of transaction the CNA has foisted on them.
“Indeed, we are convinced that the decision to domicile our salaries with the bank is motivated by ulterior motive aimed at bolstering the financial standing of the Micro Finance bank masquerading as a commercial institution.
“The delayed payment of Aides salary is not an isolated incidence. Rather, it is a crescendo of series of actions from the management that highlights the utter contempt, disregard and disdain with which the National Assembly Management holds Aides.
“Some instances will suffice. lt is on record that unlike in other Assemblies, the current management has refused to pay the quarterly Duty
“Tour Allowance (DTA) and Trainings of Aides for 24 months amounting to 8th quarters and no reason has been adduced for this unconscionable dereliction. Perhaps, to perpetuate the regime of subjugation, the management has shown more than a passing interest in who leads the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF).”
Senate President Bukola Saraki promised to resolve the matter.