Police officers have barricaded the premises of the National Assembly complex, preventing workers from gaining entrance into the building.
Patrol vans barricaded the entrance close to the Eagle Square while security agents were searching journalists, construction workers, vendors and a few others who were allowed to enter the premises.
This move follows a directive by the leadership of the National Assembly which asked the State Security Services (SSS) and the police to secure the chamber for plenary.
According to a statement by the Clerk of National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the measure is to enable members and staff come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hindrance.
Workers of the National Assembly under the umbrella body of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) on Monday disrupted normal activities in protest of what they called poor working conditions.
The protest followed a four-day warning strike that commenced on Monday.
The leaders and management of the National Assembly held an emergency meeting last night, after which they directed the police and SSS to secure the premises ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill on Wednesday.
The ICIR earlier reported that the National Assembly workers had demanded pay rise, promotions, training, among other things.
Amos Abba is a journalist with the International Center for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, who believes that courageous investigative reporting is the key to social justice and accountability in the society.