The House of Representatives has called Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed to appear before its Finance Committee, to give reasons why the 2018 budgetary allocations to the legislature and the judiciary have not been released.
This was done in regards to the Tuesday’s protest by National Assembly workers over non-payment of allowances and benefits.
According to report, the National Assembly on Tuesday was on lock down as parliamentary workers protested over their working condition, payment of entitlements and issues of promotion, which disallowed lawmakers from holding plenary.
However, following an address of assurance by the National Assembly leadership and management, the workers went back to work; they resumed their normalduties.
According to Edward Pwajok who raised the motion at the plenary yesterday, he said: “The House notes the disruption of the sitting of the National Assembly on December 4, 2018;
“Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, protested against the non-release of their benefits including promotions and other entitlements. The non-release is as a result of the non-implementation of the 2018 Appropriation Act of the National Assembly.
“The National Assembly and the judiciary are on the first line charge and there ought to be full implementation of the budget of the two arms of government,” he noted.
Pwajok expressed his worries that both government arms were on first line charge but were yet to receive their allowance because of the delay in the release of funds by the minister.
