The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) has warned that it is a grave offence punishable by law for anyone or group of people to stop lawmakers from gaining access into any of the chambers of the National Assembly.
Namdas stated this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing newsmen after laying before the House, a report aimed at tackling the industrial dispute with parliamentary workers in the National Assembly.
“It is an offence to picket the National Assembly. Nobody is against the interests of the protesting workers but I can tell you that it is against the law for anyone or group to prevent lawmakers from gaining access into any of the chambers,” Namdas told journalists.
Asked if the lawmakers intend to punish the offenders, Namdas added, “No, we will tamper justice with mercy. But it is important to know the provisions of the law in order to guard against future occurrences.”
He further reiterated that the protest was not against the lawmakers themselves but against the management of the National Assembly, stressing that both chambers of the National Assembly are doing everything possible to ensure that industrial peace reigns.
Recall that striking workers in the National Assembly, under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of the National Assembly (PASAN), on Tuesday blocked the entrance into both the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, thereby disrupting plenary and other legislative activities.
The protesting workers said they were demanding a 28 percent salary hike, promotion arrears and better conditions of service.
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