DAY 2: Police, DSS take over National Assembly complex as NASS staff vow to continue strike
By Security operatives have taken over the National Assembly complex as the strike embarked upon by the chambers staff enters days two.
The striking workers who vowed to continue with the strike accused the Assembly authorities of not calling them for negotiations over their demands for a better welfare package.
The Assembly authorities had, on Monday night, directed the Police and the Directorate of State Securty (DSS) to ensure adequate security within the vicinity of the National Assembly from Tuesday morning to enable members and staff come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hinderance.
The directive was passed after a meeting of the joint leadership of the two chambers with the management and representatives of the security agencies.
Disclosing this late Monday night in a release, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sanni Omolori, said 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. 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 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 Representives.
“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 Representives, 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 hinderance and molestation.
“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 the performance of their duties”, the leadership of the federal legislature stated,” Omolori said.
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