Police, DSS take over NASS

Following directives of the leadership of the National Assembly, security operatives have blocked the entrance of the National Assembly complex preventing striking workers from gaining entry.

The security agents including the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives on Tuesday barricaded the main entrance with patrol vans.

The presence of the security operatives has led to restricted access at the three arms zone gate. Operatives are frisking persons including journalists and construction workers before they are allowed entrance.

Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) are not allowed into the complex.

The leadership of the National Assembly had earlier directed the Police and DSS to ensure adequate security within the vicinity of the National Assembly from Tuesday morning.

This according to the leadership of the Senate, is to enable members and staff come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hindrance.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Omolori, said on Monday that the directive was passed down after a meeting of the joint leadership of the two chambers with the management and representatives of the security agencies.

Workers of the National Assembly under the umbrella body of PASAN on Monday grounded activities at the National Assembly in protest of what they called poor working conditions.

A similar protest was held two weeks ago when the workers demanded increased salaries, promotions, among other things.

The demands of PASAN include a new condition of service for members, promotion, and payment of 28 per cent increment in salary captured as contained in the 2018 budget.

The leadership of the National Assembly has directed the Police and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) to ensure adequate security within the vicinity of the National Assembly from Tuesday’s Plenary.

A statement issued by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sanni Omolori, on Monday, urged the security agencies to take charge so that members and staff can come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hindrance.

The directive was passed down after a meeting of the joint leadership of the two chambers with the management and representatives of the security agencies.

The meeting was called by the political leadership to listen to the management led by the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA) on efforts made so far to address the grievances of the striking staff.

“The leadership of the National Assembly called the meeting because they know that almost all the issues raised by the striking workers were being addressed by the management.

“After listening to the CNA, it was unanimously agreed that the management had made sufficient plans and efforts to address all the grievances of the workers and ensure their happiness.

“We were sure that the issues raised by the workers have been well attended to and that it is necessary for the business of the National Assembly to continue without any disturbance.

“Both chambers must hold their normal plenary tomorrow morning to prepare the ground for the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 to present the budget proposal to the joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“We have therefore mandated the security agencies to perform their duty of maintaining law and order in the National Assembly Complex and its surrounding.

“They must enforce the laws which allow the striking workers to down tools if they choose to and also the ones which restrain them from disturbing those who choose to work or stop parliamentarians from entering the chambers or their offices to do the work for which they were elected.

“Senators and members of the House of Representatives, their aides, other workers and people who have legitimate business within the National Assembly Complex are therefore advised to come in as they will be free to operate without any hindrance and molestation,” it said.

The National Assembly Leadership added that if the President Buhari is unable to present the budget proposal on Wednesday as scheduled, Nigerians should hold the security agencies responsible for failing in their responsibility.