Legislative aides in the National Assembly have vowed to continue with their protest until their entitlements amounting to over N5.8bn are paid.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the aides, who have been protesting since the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, were seen insisting that they would not quit until their demands are met.

The protesters had barricaded the rear entrance to the National Assembly White House, through which the presiding officers enter.

The Chairman of the National Assembly Legislative Aides Association, Mr. Samuel Melaye, told NAN that the aides have not been paid their Duty Tour Allowance and other benefits for the past three years.

“The Deputy Speaker has addressed us and we will meet with them later. However, we will continue to protest until all our entitlements are paid,” Melaye said.

Addressing the aides earlier, the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, urged them to calm down.

Lasun promised that the presiding officers and the Clerk of the National Assembly would meet with the leadership of the association to chart a way forward.

“We appreciate the fact that in the last three days, you have been very peaceful and, of course, everybody is aware of the fact that once you are not given your entitlement, it becomes difficult to live comfortably.

“What I will advise is, I am just knowing this for the first time because those days I met you here, I never bothered to find out. I thought you were outsiders.

“So, give me the next 48 hours; let us see if the presiding officers and the Clerk and your representatives can sit down to a meeting.”

However, there was a mild drama when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, arrived the National Assembly.

The aides were seen chanting songs, trying to prevent him from gaining access to the white house and insisting he should address them.

They got agitated and later regrouped as the Speaker refused to address them.

Efforts by NAN to cover the meeting failed, as they insisted it was a closed-door session. (NAN)

– Oct. 11, 2018 @ 18:55 GMT |