The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has appealed to National Assembly Workers, under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), to shelve the ongoing strike to enable President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2019 national budget unhindered.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Bestman Okereafor, who made the appeal in Enugu today, Tuesday, said that the ongoing strike would cause a major setback as regards the 2019 National Budget Presentation by the President scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, to a joint session of parliamentarians.
He said that if not checked, the strike would affect the 2019 appropriation if relevant agencies and government offices concerned do not find lasting solutions to the demand of the PASAN members.
According to him, this is coming in the face of the consistent industrial actions embarked upon by various unions in the different sectors, especially in the education sector.
He expressed concern that the negative development of the various strike in the education sector was becoming absolutely unbearable for Nigerian students.
“It is no more news that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has also joined the league, even as Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is still on strike.”
“Yet, PASAN has shut down the National Assembly over a myriad of issues and this shut down will definitely affect the proposed 2019 Budget Presentation by Mr President on Dec. 19. If the presentation is delayed and presented next year, there will be spiral negative effect of the late presentation on our economy generally.”
Business activities at the National Assembly complex, Abuja was paralyzed yesterday, Monday, as members of PASAN commenced a 4-day warning strike which will run till Thursday.
The National Assembly workers are demanding payment of their outstanding salary arrears, allowances and other welfare packages.
. source: NAN.
