Ahead of today’s 2019 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari, stern-looking security operatives have taken over entrances to the National Assembly.
Operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police were all over the place in and around the National Assembly premises with strict instructions on those to be allowed access to the complex.  At the first gate from the federal secretariat, DAILY POST witnessed members of the National Assembly staff being turned back upon display of identity cards, while some legislative staff were allowed in after putting calls across to their principals.
The instruction to stop workers from gaining access to the complex was not unconnected with protests by the Assembly workers over unpaid allowances since Monday which was seen as a threat to the presidential visit today.
However, staff of the Sergeant-at-Arms, a security unit of the National Assembly, who are members of the striking Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), were seen on duty probably due to security reasons.
The President is expected to present a budget proposal of N8.73 trillion as approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on October 24, which considered the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for the 2019 -2021.
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