NASS Management Yet To Pay Legislative Aids Severance Gratuity

Abuja – Management of National Assembly is working assiduously to avert a  major crisis over non-payment of severance package to over 3,000 Legislative Aides who served during 7th Assembly.
It revealed that National Assembly has commenced the payment of severance package of most of the Senators and members who lost election during the March 28th 2015 election.
One of the senior staff at the National Assembly, who spoke under condition of anonymity, confirmed that all the current Senators and members of the House of Representatives have received the June  salaries and allowances.
According to him, “all the monies under various sub-heads are usually collapsed and shared by the previous administrations. But they are afraid of the method to adopt this time, because nobody is sure of  what the President may do.”
He however noted that the quarterly allowance would henceforth be paid  on monthly basis, adding that the money could not be paid in bulk   amidst fear that President Muhammadu Buhari may initiate probe of the  funds disbursed to the Legislature.
Another Legislative Aide who confirmed the payment of the severance  gratuity of the immediate past lawmakers, however, expressed concern  over the postphonement in the payment of the severance package which was earlier scheduled for June ending.
In a swift response to the agitation, Salisu Maikasuwa, Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA) in an undated ‘Internal Memo’ addressed to   ‘All Legislative Aides’ via the Notice boards, called for the understanding of the Legislative Aides over the delay in the payment  of their entitlements.
The CNA in the memo signed by Dr. I. S. Habu, Director, Personnel Management Department, explained that the payment will be effected as soon as the funds are released by Federal Ministry of Finance.
“I am directed to inform all Legislative Aides to please be patient regarding the payment of their severance gratuity and duty tour allowance (DTA) as management is making concerted efforts to secure the funds from the Ministry of Finance.
“I am to add that as soon as the monies are released, payment will commence without any delay,” the memo stated.
It will be recalled that some aggrieved Legislative Aides who served during the 6th Assembly had dragged the management of National Assembly Commission to National Industrial Court over non-payment of severance gratuity.
In the suit No: NICN/Abj/230/2013, Sager Ahmed, the Claimant/Respondent who represented over 3,000 Legislative Aides alleged that officials of the National Assembly illegally deducted  huge sums of money from their salaries, emolument and severance packages and prayed the Court to order the Commission to refund the  money.