Entrance to the National Assembly, Abuja building was on Tuesday, December 18, locked by security agents as Police officers take over the complex.
Barricaded NASS gate by the Police (Photo: Sodiq Adelakun)
Policemen have taken over the National Assembly complex, preventing entry into the premises.
It was gathered that the lock down follows a directive by the leadership of the National Assembly who asked the operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) and the police to secure the chamber for plenary.
On Monday, December 17, 2018, workers at the National Assembly embarked on a four-day warning strike to protest non-payment of salaries and promotion arrears.
The workers, operating under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, had also shut down the National Assembly complex on December 4, 2018, to protest non-payment of their salary and promotion arrears.
On Tuesday, the officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) were seen in strategic positions at the National Assembly and refused entry to journalists and staff of the National Assembly complex.
The move, according to a statement by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori is to “enable members and staff come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hinderance.”
The leadership of the National Assembly had issued an earlier directive to security operatives to secure the building ahead of its plenary session.