By Adekunle Williams
The Lagos State House of Assembly, has issued a warning to the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to focus on the welfare of its members rather than involving themselves in the partisan politics of the House.
The Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko issued the warning during a two-day capacity-building workshop organised by the union for its executive members in Ikeja on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is with the theme: “The Role of Unionism in a Political Environment.”
NAN reports that Onafeko was reacting to the January 13 crisis that erupted in the House where the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa was impeached by 36 members out of the 40 members of the Assembly while the clerk was also suspended.
Some workers were seen rejoicing with the impeachment saga that ushered the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda as the speaker.
However, on April 16, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of a Lagos High Court, in its ruling, had declared Obasa’s impeachment, null and void, thereby reversing the process that led to the saga.
Reacting to union’s involvement, Onafeko advised PASAN union to remain circumspect in the discharge of their duties, stressing that while the Assembly had provided a labour-friendly environment, it should not be taken for granted.
According to him, your responsibility as union leader is only to your members, their welfare, their peace of mind and at the same time, the security of their job.
The clerk, however, urged the PASAN excos to rather focus on protecting the welfare of their members rather than meddling into the affairs of the members of the Assembly.
“So, in the course of carrying out your responsibility as a unionist, have it at the back of your mind because at any point in time that you violate the public service rule again.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress will not be able to protect you because rules of the civil service will take its course, and if that should happen, then you will be shown the way out of the civil service.
“So that you goofed yet you are not shown the way out, you are only lucky because you have a labour-friendly environment at the Lagos Assembly,” he said.
Onafeko said in a tough and strict working environment, they might be talking differently at the moment.
The clerk urged the legislative workers to always appreciate the privileges they enjoyed at the Lagos Assembly urging them never be taken for granted.
Onafeko said If they don’t appreciate what they had but only go after what they want, they need to be careful so they won’t lose what they had and still not get what they were looking for, which he regarded as a double jeopardy.
The clerk reiterated the commitment of the leadership of the House towards improving the working conditions of all the legislative workers to enhance their skills and improve efficiency.
He said to the members of the House of Assembly, the past was now in the past, as they had all learnt their lessons.
Onafeko implored the workers through union leadership to allow the past rest where it was buried for them to show better commitment this time.
He said this advice should further reflect in their conduct particularly in the way they handle their job, saying that he believed that they had learnt to be a better person, a better union leader and a better civic servant.
The state’s Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mrs Funmi Sessi, commended the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, and the clerk for facilitating the long-overdue training. Sessi highlighted the evolution of unionism, noting that the era of agitation through confrontation was over.
“This kind of programme exposes members to the practicalities and modus operandi of effective unionism. It is now about strategies and techniques,” she said.
Sessi further encouraged the union to build their capacity in ensuring relevance and competitiveness, while calling on management to sustain such trainings to enhance productivity and union synergy across the state.
Delivering the welcome address, the PASAN Chairman, Babatunde Ogunlana, emphasised the importance of understanding the dynamics of unionism within a politically-driven workspace.
Ogunlana noted that the executive members must be adequately equipped to handle their roles effectively, especially in light of recent developments within the Assembly.
Referencing a notable incident on January 13, Ogunlana remarked, “The circumstantial role played by the union in the January 13 saga in the House needs to be addressed, hence the need for this 2-day workshop.”
The chairman encouraged participants to remain focused and make the most of the sessions.
The two-day workshop is expected to feature interactive sessions and expert-led discussions aimed at empowering PASAN executives with knowledge and tools to thrive in a dynamic political environment.
