National Assembly Shut Down As Buhari Presents 2016 Budget Today

Ahead of today’s planned presentation of the 2016 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari to a joint session of the National Assembly, all staff of the legislative complex and organizations running private businesses within the premises have been directed to stay away from the area.

According to a circular issued to that effect yesterday from the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, ‘the stay away’ directive is to prevent any form of rowdy atmosphere during the budget presentation by the President.

The circular signed by the Director, Personnel Management, Mamud A. Abubakar, on behalf of the Clerk, however, exempted staffers of the National Assembly working in any of the two chambers and security personnel. It further warned that appropriate punishment would be meted out to any staff found flouting the order.

Business organizations affected by the stay away order include all operators of banks, eateries, airlines, insurance outfits, telecommunication centres and the National Open University Office ( NOUN).

The statement entitled: ‘Presentation of 2016 Budget to National Assembly by President Muhamnadu Buhari” reads, “The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari , is presenting the 2016 Budget to the National Assembly on Tuesday , December 22, 2015.

“In view of the above, all staff of the National Assembly as well as the operators of business outfits in the National Assembly Complex, with exception of those on essential duties, e.g, Chamber, Security and Medical Staff, are directed to stay away from the NASS Complex on 22nd December, 2015.

“Any staff found to have violated this instruction will face appropriate disciplinary action”

Meanwhile, security operatives have taken over the premises of the National Assembly as at yesterday evening just as last minutes preparations for the event were seen being carried out by staffers of the National Assembly, like laying of the red carpet from the main entrance into the White House to the House of Representatives Chamber where the joint session would hold for the presentation.

President Buhari had, in a Medium Term Expenditure Framework ( MTEF) forwarded to the National Assembly and approved by both chambers last week, disclosed that the total expenditureframework of the budget to be presented today would be N6.07trillion as against N5.03trillion in the outgoing year.