The Taraba State House of Assembly has been effectively shut down as staff members, under the umbrella of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), have commenced an indefinite industrial action.
Strike Action Commences
The industrial action was declared by the Taraba State chapter of PASAN and took effect from midnight on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The union had previously issued a formal notice to all assembly staff in a letter dated November 14, 2025, which referenced an earlier communication sent on November 13.
In a joint statement signed by the state chairman, Hamidu Buba, and the secretary, Timothy Enganya, PASAN directed its members to withdraw their services indefinitely. The union cited the state government's failure to address two critical grievances: the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the legislature and the failure to implement the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS).
All employees of the State House of Assembly have been instructed to stay at home until they receive further directives from the PASAN leadership.
Political Earthquake as Lawmakers Defect
In a stunning parallel development that has sent shockwaves through the state's political landscape, all 16 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Taraba State House of Assembly have resigned from the party and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The mass defection was announced during Monday's plenary session by the Speaker, John Kizito Bonzina, who read out the individual letters of resignation from the lawmakers. The defectors justified their move by citing a protracted leadership crisis at the national level of the PDP, which they claimed has created deep divisions and confusion within the party.
They invoked Section 109 of the Nigerian Constitution, which permits lawmakers to switch parties in the event of a division within their original political party.
Reactions and Implications
Despite the hardline stance of the strike, PASAN has expressed its readiness to engage in negotiations with the Taraba State government to resolve the impasse. The union emphasized its commitment to democratic principles and urged its members to remain united.
Meanwhile, the political defection has fundamentally altered the composition of the 24-member State Assembly, which is now dominated by the APC. This move is seen as a precursor to the anticipated defection of Governor Agbu Kefas from the PDP to the APC.
Reacting to the defections, a former speaker and current APC member, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah, praised the lawmakers for their decision. Diah, representing the Mbamnga constituency, stated that this alignment with the ruling party would enable the state to benefit more from the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Lawmakers who spoke after the plenary, including Jethro Yakubu (Wukari I) and Musa Chul (Gassol I), stated that the internal crisis within the PDP threatened the party's very existence and that remaining in it would have jeopardized their political futures and those of their supporters.
