Protest in National Assembly as Dep Speaker’s aide dies over unpaid salaries

THE Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, summoned the management of the National Assembly over the late payment of salaries of legislative aides.

The death of one of the legislative aides, Hassan Abiodun, over a ruptured appendicitis because he could not pay N165,000 medical bill for the recommended surgery, led the Forum of the Legislative Aides to Saraki, to complain over the delay in the payment of their salary.

The deceased, who died on Friday, June 9, was a legislative aide attached to the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun.

The aides, who all appeared in black attire, later protested and met Saraki who is also the Chairman of the National Assembly Commission.

Saraki later summoned the management over the matter, however, the outcome of the meeting was not known as at press time.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Mr Sanni Onogu, told newsmen that the meeting with the management intended to discuss the issues raised by the protesters.

He said: “The Senate President has summoned the management of National Assembly with their intention to resolve all the issues raised by the legislative aides.”

Dayo Fadugba, the spokesman of the aides, accused the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Sani Omolori, of having an ulterior motive over his preference for a “mushroom bank and unknown financial institution.”

According to him “From all indications, it is manifest that the bank does not have the capacity and infrastructure to handle the volume of transaction the Clerk has foisted on it. Indeed, we are convinced that the decision is motivated by ulterior motive aimed at bolstering the financial standing of the microfinance bank masquerading as a commercial institution.”

The office of the Deputy Speaker described the death of Abiodun as sudden and shocking.

The Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker, Bimbo Daramola, said: “It is insensitive and unfair, to say the death was caused by the payment of May salary.

“Whoever concocted that narrative is insensitive and not fair to the memory of the young man. We are aware his wife is due to give birth any moment from now and we will support her and the family.”