Abia Speaker Denies Alleged Assault on House Staff, Calls Report 'Spurious and Malicious' | READ DETAILS

The Office of the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly has officially refuted reports alleging that Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa ordered an assault on staff members of the State House of Assembly. In a detailed press statement released by his media aide, Patrick Uchechukwu, the Speaker condemned the circulating claims as false and politically motivated.

According to the statement, Rt. Hon. Emeruwa was not present at the Legislative Complex during the reported demonstration and did not issue any directive authorizing violence against staff. On the contrary, the Speaker maintains that his relationship with the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has always been warm, robust, and collaborative.

The incident reportedly involved members of PASAN barring some House members from accessing the legislative complex by locking the gates. Speaker Emeruwa described this action as "fundamentally wrong, unethical, and unacceptableÔÇØ, emphasizing that union activities should not disrupt the operations of the House.

Nevertheless, the Speaker reaffirmed his support for the legitimate rights of PASAN to seek improved welfare and remuneration for its members. He stressed that the Abia State House of Assembly remains committed to the earlier agreement reached with Governor Alex Chioma Otti to address the staff's concerns and ensure lasting solutions.

Speaker Emeruwa also called out a small group of individuals he described as "political desperadoesÔÇØ, accusing them of deliberately spreading false narratives to undermine the House's stability. He warned that defamatory campaigns would not be tolerated and affirmed that his office is prepared to pursue all legitimate legal avenues to hold offenders accountable.

Despite the controversy, the Speaker emphasized his dedication to a productive and harmonious relationship with PASAN, highlighting the importance of transparent engagement, timely resolution of grievances, and adherence to established frameworks for dialogue.

"History and experience have consistently proven that peaceful dialogue and mutual respect are the most effective tools for conflict resolution and achieving sustainable outcomes,ÔÇØ he stated. The Speaker urged the Union to continue engaging with the House through dignified and proper channels for the benefit of Abia State and its governance.