By Emenike Vincent Onyembi
A wave of anger is crashing over social media, aimed directly at Rt. Hon. Emeruwa, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly. The accusation that he is the one man blocking parliamentary staff from getting their long-awaited benefits and pay raises is wrong.
The wrong narratives are built on a misunderstanding of how government works and ignores the real facts. Before we spread blame, we must understand the facts.
Let’s start with the most important fact. The parliamentary staff, known as PASAN, have many demands. One of them is a working House of Assembly Service Commission—a board to manage their affairs independently.
In Abia, the law creating this commission was passed in 2018. This was years before the current Speaker took his position. It was Governor Dr. Alex Otti who recently created this board. He chose the nominees and sent their names to the House of Assembly.
The Speaker’s job was to have the House screen and approve these nominees. He did exactly that. It was a necessary step to make the board legal and functional. By doing this, the Speaker Rt. Hon. Emeruwa helped fulfill one of PASAN’s own demands.
So, the first charge against the Speaker is false. The staff’s main demands are big and serious. One of them is financial Autonomy, letting the House manage its own budget directly, as the Nigerian Constitution allows. The other one is a new salary scale (CONLESS), which allows a special salary structure for legislative staff (PASAN).
These demands are not simple. They need money, policy changes, and new administrative systems. The only arm of government with the power and the treasury to make these things happen is the Executive Governor’s office.
The Speaker does not control the state’s budget or payroll. The Speaker’s real power is his voice. His role is to negotiate, to advocate, and to persuade the Governor on behalf of his staff. And this is precisely what he has done.
I am aware that because of the efforts of the speaker, Governor Otti has set up a special committee to look into all of PASAN’s concerns. This is progress, not blockage.
What the so called opposition e-rats don’t know is that this is a national problem. Perhaps the most important point is being missed entirely. This struggle is not unique to Abia. Making it seem like Abia is the only failing state is dishonest. I have been privileged to attend over six Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly meetings and workshops in Abuja and I can confirm that it is a national problem.
In the whole of Nigeria, only two states—Lagos and Delta, have fully met all of PASAN’s demands. Over 30 other states have not implemented them at all. It is only a few states that have done part of what is required.
Abia is not an exception. It is part of the rule. The fight for legislative autonomy is a nationwide battle. This context matters. It shows that the problem is complex and systemic, not caused by one person in Abia.
To those launching attacks on social media, your passion is noted, but your direction is wrong. Before you type, get informed. Spreading a false narrative is very wrong and condemnable. It divides people, destroys the reputation of a hardworking official, and distracts from the real path to a solution.
Instead of criticism, there should be some praise. Credit should go to Governor Alex Otti for taking the step to form the service commission board. Credit should also go to the Speaker for swiftly screening the nominees so the board can start its work.
The way forward is clear: have patience and support the special committee created by the Governor. Allow the process he has started to work. Encourage continued dialogue between PASAN, the House leadership, and the Governor’s office. Locking the assembly complex will not resolve the issues.
I think we need to move from being attackers to being informed citizens. We need to trade blame for constructive pressure. We also need to acknowledge the steps already taken while honestly working towards the finish line.
The staff of the Abia State House of Assembly deserve their due, and I think they will get it faster through unity and truth, not through misinformation and unfair attacks against the speaker of the 8th Abia House of Assembly.
Emenike Vincent Onyembi (©EVO) is a Public Affairs Analyst.
