Tragedy & Strikes: Anambra Assembly Workers Fight For Survival
By IFEOMA IZUCHUKWU
TRAGEDY and frustration have gripped the Anambra State House of Assembly as workers begin an indefinite strike over poor pay and lack of allowances. The strike follows the death of Tochukwu Ezekobe of the Publications Department, who reportedly succumbed to pressure over an unpaid loan. She is one of three assembly staff who have died this year under similar circumstances.
Sources reveal that 85% of parliamentary workers rely on loans to survive, leaving them with as little as ₦7,000 after deductions. They decry the government’s refusal to implement the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS), provide legislative allowances, or establish the Legislative Service Commission—measures that would guarantee administrative autonomy and improve conditions.
Workers say repeated appeals to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo have gone unanswered. Currently, Anambra Assembly staff receive only ₦1,000 as outfit allowance, with no legislative duty allowance, lagging behind peers in other Southeast states.
On 15 November 2025, the Assembly complex in Awka was barricaded with protest placards as workers joined nationwide strikes demanding CONLESS implementation and improved working conditions. Majority Leader Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme confirmed the absence of autonomy within the House, underscoring the urgency of the workers’ demands.
