By Gift Habib
Security at the National Assembly has been tighten ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2021 budget presentation.
Buhari is expected to present a N13.08 trillion budget proposal for 2021 before the joint sitting of the National Assembly (Senators and members of House of Representatives) by 11am on Thursday, 8th October 2020.
Anyone who is conversant with the movement of the President would immediately know on arriving the National Assembly that the country’s number one man would be visiting. The security at the NASS has been boosted and tightened with mostly men of the Department of State Security (DSS) who were deployed specially for the occasion.
As early as 6am on Thursday, men of the DSS have taken over the security at the inner gate alongside the Sergents-at-arms.
The two main entrances have been fully taken over by mixture of men in black suit and DSS official uniform.
The Assembly Lobby to the Green Chambers and the lower entrance that leads to the banks
are manned by the security operatives.
The side entrance of the Green Chamber, where the joint sitting would hold has beenntaken over by Villa security, while a mixture of men from the DSS and Sergeants-at -Arms secured the main entrance.
A special gate pass were provided for those cleared to have access into the assembly for this annual ritual of budget presentation by the country’s leader.
Journalists who were not issued tag had tough time getting through as theybwere denied access until a senior official intervene before they were cleared and allowed in after about one hour waiting.
Besides, only those who have business in the premises were allowed in as most workers have been asked to stay at home through an internal memo issued the previous day.
The corridors of the NASS are empty today. But this could be attributed to a circular signed by the Secretary Directorate of Human Resources and Staff Development , Elder Felix Orumwense on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly telling workers to stay away from work.
The memo reads in part: “consequently, all staff are strongly advised to stay away from the office premises in that day (today) except those in essential duties and others officially permitted and tagged by identification.
” The directive not to come to office as Stated also includes Banks and all other services and business outfits within the National Assembly Complex.”
