News: Over 500 Job Seekers Besiege the National Assembly (NASS) of Nigeria

National Assembly (NASS) of Nigeria - Abuja-No fewer than 500 Nigerians, yesterday besieged the National Assembly Complex seeking employment as aides to lawmakers after the inauguration of the ninth Assembly on Tuesday.

The job seekers took over the entire lobby in the White House of the Assembly Complex at about 11.45am.
Recall that each lawmaker in both chambers is entitled to five parliamentary aides while principal officers get more than the mandatory five.

469 legislators in both legislative chambers are expected to employ 2345 aides to work with them for the next four years. In 2011, immediately the Assembly was inaugurated more than 4000 job seekers took over the lobby but because of tight security arrangement only those with contacts were allowed into the complex this time around.

Also, in 2015 more than 6000 job seekers took over NASS complex. A civil servant who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said” it’s a ritual we see every four years and in some rare cases some might get jobs.

‘But in most cases the lawmakers pay them peanuts as they employ them as adhoc staff. “The salary of a Legislative Aide is N150,000.00 but they pay them N60,000.00 while the name that is sent to the National Assembly Civil Service Commission, NACSC is that of family members.

Source: Vanguard