Paucity of fund has visited the Imo State House of Assembly with the leadership devising means to survive the austere measures.
Away from the internal crisis that held the state legislator in the jugular for a greater part of last week, hunger is said to be the lot of the lawmakers at the moment.
An indication that the legislative arm is cash strapped to undertake several obligations emerged emanated on Tuesday when the Speaker, Rt Hon Acho Ihim surprisingly scrapped positions due to the Minority class.
Ihim during plenary announced the scrapping of the minority offices except that of the Minority Leader. The Speaker this newspaper was told based his action on lack of funds to run the affairs of the House.
There are offices allocated to the Minority members in the State Assembly, ranging from Minority Leader to Deputy Ministry Leader, and Minority Whip.
But Ihim, citing financial reasons has erased it as well as dissolving all committees in the House.
Meanwhile, as 2017 gradually rolls to an end, the staff of the Assembly is warming up to embark on a protest over half payment of the outfit allowance for 2015.
The parliamentary Association Staff of Nigeria, PASAN has been complaining about the non- payment of the outfit allowance which was last paid in 2015 to three quarter of the work force. About N5m is needed to complete the payment.
After several protest, PASAN has concluded arrangements to battle the leadership of the House and Imo State government over the matter.
PASAN is the umbrella body of workers in the State Assembly.
Meanwhile, the south-East National parliamentary staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has called on the no 1 lawmaker of Imo State House of Assembly Speaker Acho Ihim to reserve the staff of the Imo Assembly by restoring the payment of staff outfit allowance as well as effecting the payment of 2015 outfit allowance to some staff who were deprived the payment when their colleagues weed paid.
The call was made at Enugu State House of Assembly during the South-East zonal National Executive Council meeting chaired by S/East National Vice- President Comrade Nwinya Anayochukwu.
Among other issues as contained in their communiqué is an appeal to the leadership of Imo State House of Assembly to facilitate the Governors accent to Assembly Service Commission Law as amended which will serve as a pace-setter in the zone.
The communiqué equally urged other Houses of Assembly in the zone to make sure that Assembly Service Commission are established and functional on or before 2nd quarter of next year. it was equally resolved that all the zonal state House of Assembly be urged to vote in affirmative in respect of the legislative autonomy as soon as is being forwarded to them.
The communiqué reaffirmed that staff of various State Assemblies are mandatory members of PASAN.
