N’assembly leaders call off planned meeting amid DSS blockade

The leadership of the national assembly has called off its meeting scheduled to hold at noon on Tuesday.

Yusuf Lasun, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, disclosed this while speaking to journalists at the entrance of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

Lasun said the meeting was called off on Monday morning following the blockade mounted at the entrance of the complex by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

“A meeting that was scheduled for 12 this afternoon has just been called off,” Lasun said, adding: “With the situation on ground, you know a meeting cannot be peacefully held.”

The leaders were also expected to deliberate on “crucial issues” at the meeting.

Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of reps, had adjourned plenary till September 25 after security operatives laid siege to the residences of the senate president and his deputy.

But they had been under pressure to  cut short the recess and reconvene and consider the supplementary budget for the 2019 election sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The president sought the approval of N242 billion for the election, of which he asked them to raise over N160 billion through virement.

Ita Enang, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters, had said failure to reconvene parliament could lead to a shutdown of government.