By Peter Uzoma
Staff of the Imo State House of Assembly are warming up for a fresh round of battle with the management of the establishment following discrepancies trailing the non- payment of remaining part of “outfit” allowance to a section of workers.
Trumpeta learnt that a category of workers of the state legislature, apart from their monthly salaries, receive other allowances which include “Outfit” and “Hazard” for each year.
However, it was learnt that since the coming of the present leadership in the House, the allowances are not longer regular giving rise to a fresh controversy trailing the 2015 Outfit payment to the workers. The officers of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) Imo Assembly chapter are spoiling for war with the management over the 2015 outfit allowance said to be about N5.2m, staff of the legislative house are yet to receive.
It was gathered that in 2015, the state government released money running into millions said to be for the payment of the outfit for the workers. PASAN officials further revealed that while 70% of the workers got the payment built into the salaries overtime, others failed to get it till date. The workers further disclosed that the amount for the completion of the payment is about N5.2m. and since 2015, the money has not been paid till date raising suspicion in some quarters within the staff union.
The workers’ union who are alarmed by the development have met with the Speaker, Rt Hon Acho Ihim on several occasions and even threatened to go on strike, but was enjoined to tarry a while for the matter to be sorted out. It was also gathered that the workers in a bid to hold the House to ransom and get paid threatened to boycott the recently concluded Commonwealth Parliamentary session held in Owerri, but were asked to wait after the hosting of the event for settlement. Now, that the event is over, the staff are back to the trenches in the quest to have the “outfit” money paid.
Efforts to reach the office of the Speaker was rebuffed as the officials failed to speak in the matter.
