The leadership and management of the National Assembly have said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Department of State Services (DSS) are to blame if President Muhammadu Buhari cannot hold his 2019 Appropriation Bill presentation before the assembly on Wednesday as planned.
The leadership is led by President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, while the management is led by Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori.
In a statement, after an emergency meeting between the leadership and management of the National Assembly early Tuesday, Sani-Omolori said the security agencies were called in to secure the assembly complex and enable normal activities resume on Tuesday after some protesting workers disrupted activities on Monday.
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The statement read, “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. And 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 (Tuesday) 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.
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“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.
“If President Buhari is unable to present the budget proposal on Wednesday as scheduled Nigerians should hold the security agencies responsible for failing in the performance of their duties.”