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Blame police, DSS if Buhari can’t present budget –NASS

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Blame police, DSS if Buhari can't present budget –NASS

Should the scheduled budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari before a joint session of the National Assembly fail tomorrow, the management of the National Assembly has asked Nigerians to put the blame on the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The management of the National Assembly, led by the clerk of the house, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, said it had invited the two security formations to secure the Assembly Complex starting from Tuesday morning.

Sani-Omolori who issued a statement after an emergency meeting with the management of the National Assembly said the security agencies were told to mobilise ahead of tomorrow “to enable members and staff come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hinderance.”

He noted that issues raised by the striking staff of the National Assembly would be resolved.

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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.

“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.

“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.”

President Buhari had last week informed the leadership of the National Assembly to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill before a joint session of the house.

In the meantime, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang holds to the belief that the planned budget presentation was “still on course.”

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