Protesting NASS workers vanish as Buhari presents 2019 budget

Workers at the National Assembly under the auspices of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) have abandoned their strike action as President Muhammadu Buhari presents the 2019 Appropriation  Bill to the legislature on Wednesday.

The workers had on Monday, the first day of a four-day warning strike crippled business and legislative activities at the National Assembly.

However, police and the Department of State Services’ intervention restored activities to normalcy on Tuesday restoring water and power supplies which had been shut down by the protesting workers.

The security operatives have continued their handling of the situation on Wednesday.

Presidential Guards Brigade, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, among others, are also around the complex.

The President had been scheduled to arrive at 11am and lay the budget before a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Clerk to the National Assembly Mohammed Sani-Omolori was in the House chamber to conduct a rehearsal for the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters ( Senate) Ita Enang, who will guide Mr Buhari on his movement and presentation in the chamber.

The workers were still at the main entrance to the premises as at 8am on Wednesday, resolving to stay away from the premises pending the time the budget presentation would last.

While businesses have remained closed, security operatives conducted multiple checks at each of the gates on the premises.

Meanwhile, former Niger Delta militants on Wednesday stormed the main entrance of the National Assembly with placards to demand payment of their allowances.

They are also protesting the sack of the coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Programme Paul Boroh.