Anebi
Workers at the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday, wore black dresses to work in protest over the alleged non-implementation of the N70,000 and N75,000 minimum wage adjustments by the leadership of the House.
DAILY POST reports that the development came barely 24 hours after members of the House organized a reception to appreciate the staff for their support in the past two years in office.
The reception was part of activities by the 24 lawmakers to mark two years as elected legislators by their various constituencies.
It was gathered that the staff under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, had last Friday in a meeting resolved to wear black dresses to the office as part of a protest against the non-implementation of the minimum wage.
Recalls that the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki had on April 29, 2024, announced the approval of a new minimum wage to workers from N40,000 to N70,000.
Obaseki announced the new minimum wage during the commissioning of the Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Labour House, named after Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of the state, in Benin City.
He said the implementation would take effect on May 1, 2024.
DAILY POST also recalls that the incumbent governor of the State, Senator Monday Okpebholo had in the last May Day increased the minimum wage by N5000.
The workers of the assembly lamented that more than one year after the approval of the N70,000 minimum wage, they were yet to receive their wages, while staff of other government ministries, agencies, and departments have started enjoying the new wages.
It was also learnt that the workers are complaining about not benefiting from the additional N5000 minimum wage by Governor Okpebholo.
It was further gathered that the staff are agitating over the non-implementation of CONLESS, a new special salary scheme for
Staff of the Houses of Assembly nationwide are following the financial autonomy granted to them by the Federal Government.
The workers are further angered that after being involved in the fight for the House of Assemblies to have financial autonomy, they were left in the lurch as they were now being denied what is due to them.
A source close to the workers said that at last week’s meeting, the staff resolved to issue a 21-day strike notice to the leadership of the house.
The source said the strike ultimatum started counting yesterday, Monday, June 16, 2025.
He said the workers will be wearing black dresses to the office for two days.
He also added that in line with the labour laws, at the expiration of the 21 days, staff were issued another 14 days’ notice, and lastly, seven days ‘ notice.
The source further added that after exhausting all the relevant provisions of the labour laws, the workers would have no option but to embark on full-scale industrial action.
DAILY POST recalls that the speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, had during the reception on June 16, 2025, commended the workers for being there for them since their formal inauguration as lawmakers in the House.
In the reception graced by the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, the speaker assured the workers that their interests and welfare are paramount to them.
“Today we are celebrating our workers to make them know that we love them. To let them know that their interest and welfare are paramount in our hearts.
“Today, Your Excellency, we want to celebrate our workers. That is why we are here to celebrate them, because without these staff, there is nothing the members can do. That’s the truth. We are soldiers here.
“Soldiers go and Soldiers come, barracks remain. Our staff are the barracks and they are made to be here for 35 years. The maximum term a lawmaker can serve is 8 years. If you are lucky you can spend 16 years.
“On behalf of my colleagues, I want to give you kudos. I want to praise you and thank you all for standing by us.
“Anytime there is a crisis once we speak to you, you always calm down. I want to thank you all for being there for us”, he added.
The Speaker, who acknowledged that there are some agitations by the workers, however, described the agitations as no issues, assuring that “we are going to resolve it.
Edo Assembly workers wear black to protest non-implementation of N70,000 minimum wage
