The death of Hassan Abiodun, an aide to the House of Representatives deputy speaker, allegedly caused by his inability to pay for a needed appendicitis operation due to lack of payment of salaries and allowances, on Teusday sparked protest by National Assembly legislative aides.
They protested as they mourned the death of their colleague, who they said died because he could not pay the hospital bill that could have saved his life.
The aides attributed the death to irregular payment of salaries and allowances by those in charge, who actually go home with their jumbo salaries, intact and regularly paid.
The deceased, who was attached to the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Sulaiman Lasun, was said to have been ill with appendicitis and was admitted in an Abuja hospital. It is gathered that he was supposed to go for surgery on June 5, 2017 but failed due to inability to pay the medical charge, which was the N165,000.
It is still unclear if he contacted his principal, Mr. Lasun for help, and if he declined to help.
In any case, Abiodun died from ruptured appendicitis four days after the date slated for the surgery that never was. He was buried on Saturday.
The Chief Press Secretary to President of the Senate, Mr. Sanni Onogu later told journalists that Senate President, Bukola Saraki had summoned the National Assembly Management to a meeting on the matter. Earlier, Mr. Saraki had sent his Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Makanjuola, to address the protesters.
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