BREAKING: Police, DSS clear protesting workers from NASS as Buhari presents 2019 budget

Normalcy has returned to the National Assembly premises after the security operatives took over the situation, preparatory to the Wednesday presentation of the 2019 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The protesting staff have crippled business and legislative activities at the National Assembly as part of their four-day warning strike.

The budget presentation is coming on the third day of a four-day warning strike by the National Assembly workers under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigerian (PASAN).

As of the early hours of Wednesday, a combined team of security operatives from the Police and DSS  had beefed up security in and around the National Assembly complex ahead of President Buhari’s visit to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill at 11:00 a.m.

Buhari is expected to present the federal budget proposal before a joint session of the Assembly at a plenary on Wednesday morning.

A combined team of security agencies have been deployed at the three entrances into the complex.

The entry points are the main gate overlooking the Federal Secretariat, the entrance through the SGF office on Aso Drive and the back gate connecting the Presidential Villa, while entry into the complex has been limited to accreditation lists submitted by different units in the Assembly.

Only those whose names are on the lists are allowed in after being thoroughly screened by the security operatives.

Vehicular movement into the complex has also been restricted to lawmakers and principal management staff of the Assembly.