By Abasi Ita
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Cross River State House of Assembly Chapter, has embarked on an indefinite strike over the state government’s failure to implement the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for legislative workers.
In a circular issued on October 17, 2025, and signed by the union’s Action Committee, PASAN instructed all Assembly staff to withdraw their services from Monday, October 20, 2025, until further notice. The union said the action followed the expiration of several notices and reminders earlier sent to the state government without any response.
According to PASAN, the government was notified through official correspondences dated June 16, June 26, July 31, and September 2, 2025, referencing PASAN/NS/CROSS RIVER/36, PASAN/NS/ADM/CROSS RIVER/31, and PASAN/NS/CROSS RIVER/31. Despite repeated appeals, the association said the state had failed to act, describing the situation as “an unfortunate case of deliberate neglect.”
The association lamented that Cross River remains the only state in the South-South yet to implement CONLESS, even after the policy was agreed upon by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Conference of Speakers.
The decision to down tools was unanimously endorsed during a general congress of the union held at the Assembly complex on Friday, October 17, 2025, in compliance with the directives of PASAN’s national leadership.
“All legislative staff in the Cross River State House of Assembly are hereby directed to stay away from work beginning midnight, Monday, October 20, 2025, until further notice,” the statement declared, urging members to remain united under the mantra, Aluta continua, Victoria ascerta.
The industrial action is expected to halt all legislative activities in the state, including plenary sessions, committee work, and administrative functions. PASAN maintained that the strike became inevitable after all peaceful efforts to engage the government failed and called on the authorities to resolve the issue urgently in the interest of industrial harmony.
As of press time, government officials were yet to comment on the development.