EXTRA: ‘They’ve taken over our offices’ — rep decries influx of ‘corporate beggars’ into n’assembly

Ismail Haruna, a member of the house of representatives, says “corporate beggars” have invaded the national assembly.

Haruna, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on the floor of the green chamber on Thursday.

Raising a point of order on personal explanation, the lawmaker who represents Toro federal constituency of Bauchi, said lawmakers are often accosted by “corporate and non-corporate” beggars who solicit money.

He said the beggars loiter the corridors of offices within the National Assembly Complex, constituting a nuisance to lawmakers.

“Within the premises — that is the corridors of the national assembly — we have seen a number of corporate and non-corporate beggars taking over the corridors even to our officers — begging for money and distracting our operations,” he said.

“When you’re leaving, these people will scope you. They will beg for money.”

The lawmaker also said commercial drivers cause traffic gridlock within the National Assembly Complex, blocking honourable members from moving in and out of the complex.

“Commercial drivers — Bolt and Uber drivers — cause serious traffic in the complex,” he said.

“These people have been coming in, dropping passengers within the complex. Not only that, they wait within the complex for the next passenger that they will take.”

As Haruna was speaking, Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, interrupted him, saying he should rather present a motion on the matter before the house.

“If you can come through a motion on notice, we will give you all the time to discuss,” Abbas said.