The Organised Labour on Wednesday sealed the gate of Plateau State House of Assembly as Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) begin 2023 budget defence.

Workers in the state on Sunday night embarked on a five-day sit-at-home warning strike for non-payment of staff salary and other welfare issues.

Reporters who visited the state assembly found the main entrance sealed.

Some labour leaders at the gate said no worker would be allowed to go in and work.

It was, however, discovered that the members of the assembly used the back gate to access their offices.

But speaking with the reporters shortly after the eventual commencement of the exercise, the speaker of the house, Yakubu Sanda, said that the initial hiccups had been resolved.

Mr Sanda said that the “assembly is labour-friendly” and described the incident that heralded the budget defence as unfortunate.

“But of course, we spoke to one another to really understand the need for the budget process to start.

“We all know it has a timeline on which if we don’t conclude, it will affect the system entirely,  and everyone, including the civil servants will suffer the consequences.

“So we try to explain to one another for us to understand the need for them to allow the process to start and that is why the processes are now on,” he said.

The speaker stated that in spite of delay, the defence was going on smoothly and would be concluded on schedule.

According to him, the members wilk work including weekends to get the budget ready for governor’s assent before the Dec. 31 deadline.

He said that various committees would scrutinise the budget to provide solutions to the state needs.

(NAN)