NASS management evicts lawmakers from office ahead of expiration of tenure

Ahead of the expiration of the 8th National Assembly, the management of the National Assembly has sacked the lawmakers from their various offices despite the fact that their tenures expire on June 8.

It was gathered that the development had enforced the lawmakers to embark on the evacuation of their belongings from their offices, as they were given an ultimatum of 5pm of Tuesday (tomorrow).

The development according, to investigations, has forced the senators and members of the House of Representatives to engage in last minute packing of electronic items and furniture in their offices.

It was also learnt that some of the lawmakers have decided to sell out their belongings at giveaway prices.

As of late Friday night till Sunday afternoon, trucks were noticed moving belongings of the lawmakers out of the premises of the National Assembly.

A senior management staff member who spoke on anonymity said “It is true that we asked the lawmakers to pack out of their offices latest by 5pm on Tuesday and hand over their keys. We need to renovate the offices.

“Apart from that, we are also going to re-allocate the offices before new lawmakers resume on June 11. The Eighth Assembly will end on June 8 and we don’t have enough time.”

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Speaking in the issue, Senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe said, “We were all aware that our four-year tenure is expiring. I don’t think we have to wait for the management to tell us to quit before we leave.

“A lot of us have already moved out our personal belongings. We can even hand over the keys today if they want them.”

However, some of the lawmakers who spoke with our correspondent expressed concerns that the management’s action would leave them stranded from Tuesday as they would not be able to access their offices.

An outgoing member of the House of Representatives from the South-West said, “The items we are moving out of our offices have been sold to us.

“The management valued them and asked us to remove them if we are interested. They will deduct the money from our severance allowances.”

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