PASAN Mobilizes for Nationwide Strike as 21-Day Ultimatum to Governors Expires

Fatima Ndagi

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has issued a final mobilization order to all its chapters nationwide, signalling its preparedness to embark on an indefinite strike as its 21-day ultimatum to state governors draws to a close.
The imminent industrial action could cripple legislative activities across all 36 State Houses of Assembly.
The union’s latest step follows a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Bauchi on October 23, 2025, where members resolved to give State Governments a 21-day deadline—effective October 24—to begin implementing the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) and full financial autonomy for State Legislatures, in line with Section 121(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
An official directive (Ref: PASAN/NS/SGO/01, dated November 12, 2025) confirmed that the ultimatum will expire on Friday, November 15, 2025. The National Secretariat expressed dissatisfaction that despite providing “ample window for compliance, reports reaching the national secretariat indicate that most State Governments are yet to begin the implementation as directed.”
In a decisive move toward enforcement, PASAN instructed its zonal leaders to activate full mobilization. In a memo titled “Directive to Mobilize for Industrial Action,” the union ordered all National Vice Presidents to “immediately mobilize all Chapters within their respective zones for industrial action as soon as the ultimatum elapses. This action is to ensure full enforcement of the NEC resolution and to press home our demand for the implementation of CONLESS without further delay.”
The union also wrote to Rt. Honourable Speakers across the states (Ref: PASAN/NS/ADM/OF/22, dated November 13, 2025), informing them of the ultimatum’s expiration and its readiness to strike. PASAN lamented that “the said ultimatum expired Friday, 14th November, 2025, without any concrete response or positive action from most State Governments.”
While restating its preference for dialogue, PASAN urged its members to remain focused and united. “While we continue to pursue our legitimate demands, all members are enjoined to remain resolute, law-abiding, and united in the struggle for justice and improved welfare. In solidarity,” it said. However, it stressed that workers “can no longer continue under unfair and discriminatory treatment,” warning that the persistent neglect of its demands amounts to “institutional disregard for the legislative workforce.”
PASAN added that it has written to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (CSSLN), alerting them to the looming strike and urging immediate intervention to avert a nationwide shutdown of legislative activities.
The correspondence, jointly signed by Comrade Mohammed Usman, National President, and Comrade Agugbue Ugochi, Acting National Secretary, and dated November 13, 2025, was titled “Notification of Expiration of 21-Day Ultimatum and Readiness for Industrial Action.” It was also copied to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Clerks of State Assemblies, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and security agencies including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Reiterating its call for urgent action, the union stated that “the patience of our members has been overstretched,” and urged the Governors’ Forum to collectively prevail on State Governments to implement CONLESS “in the interest of industrial harmony and the effective functioning of State Legislatures.”
With just hours left before the ultimatum expires, Nigeria’s legislative workforce stands on the edge of a nationwide shutdown. Without swift intervention from the governors, the strike could effectively halt legislative proceedings across the federation.