Deputy
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun (APC, Osun), who
briefed journalists in Abuja on why the planned meeting was called-off,
blamed the federal government and security agencies for attempt to
truncate the legislature.
"We
were informed by the Senate President through text messages that there
will be meeting by 12:00 pm. But with the situation on ground, no
meeting can hold," Lasun said.
He
added, "People should realise that what defines democracy is the
legislative arm of government. Today, that arm of government is being
trampled upon; it is about to go into extinction."
It
should be recalled that a meeting of the leadership of the Senate and
House of Representatives was earlier scheduled today to discuss the
proposed N242 billion budget of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) for the 2019 general elections.
However,
by 7.05 am this morning, operatives of the Department of Security
Service (DSS) laid a siege on the National Assembly, thereby denying
lawmakers, journalists and other staff entry.
Even
as the lawmakers were able to force their way to the complex, they
could not gain entry into the chambers, which according to reports,
forced them to hang around the lobby and thereafter cancelled the
meeting indefinitely.
With
six months to the 2019 general elections, the cancellation means that
the lawmakers may not be reconvening anytime soon to consider the
earmarked fund for the poll.
Asked
to clarify speculation that the siege was intended to impeach Senate
President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, Lasun denied
knowledge of any impeachment rumor, saying "no matter the method, you
need two-third of the sitting members to effect a change of leadership."
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