The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has intervened in the intra-union crises rocking the Parliamentary Staff of Nigeria (PASAN), National Assembly Chapter, with a view to resolving the impasse.
The union has been polarised following the vote of no confidence on its chairman, Comrade Sunday Sabiyi, over alleged misconduct by concerned staff of the association.
All efforts made by the management and the National Secretariat of the Union to resolve the crisis had proved abortive with the Concerned Staff, a group within the association demanding that a congress be called by the executive to render annual returns to members in line with its constitution.
However, the Federal Ministry Labour and Employment through the Registrar of Trade Unions has now given the executive an ultimatum to hold the congress before March 31st as a step towards resolving the dispute.
The Registrar of Trade Unions, Mr Olebe Alex, in a letter with reference number: FMLE/TU/136/111/148 and dated 24th March, 2025, directed the Chairman of the Union, to hold the Congress.
The letter titled: Intra-Union crisis in the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) National Assembly Chapter, a copy which was sighted by The Nation in Abuja, reads in part: “Following the resolution of the last meeting which held on 12th March, 2025 in the office of the Registrar of Trade Unions with the National President of PASAN, some members of the National Assembly chapter executives and some Concerned Members of the Union in attendance and the resolution reached thereat, that PASAN National Assembly Chapter should convene a congress on or before the 31st day of March 2025 to help quell the lingering crisis that have bedeviled the chapter, you are hereby requested to convene the National Assembly Chapter Congress on or before the 31st day of March 2025.
“Further to that, take note that the office of the Registrar of Trade Unions should be invited to observe the proceedings at the congress.”
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A member of the union, who spoke in confidence on the matter said: “The PASAN Constitution requires every chapter to hold a general Congress quarterly, but it seems this hasn’t been happening, leading to a vote of no confidence in the Executive Officers.
“The Trade Unions’ Registrar is trying to resolve the crisis, but the Executive Officers appear uninterested in making peace.
“The core issue is the Executive Officers’ failure to represent and protect their members’ interests, particularly regarding remuneration, allowances, and benefits from the National Assembly Management.
“With the Registrar’s directive to call a Congress being ignored, all eyes are now on the Registrar’s office to see how they’ll handle this refusal.”