Sealing of Anambra Assembly complex is to maintain peace, says Clerk

Mr Pius Udoh, Clerk of Anambra State House of Assembly has said
that the sealing of the Assembly complex was to ensure the safety
of workers in the legislature.

Udoh told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Awka, that
the legislators failed to operate within the confines of the law
guiding the civil service in the complex, to ensure safety of lives
and property.

He said that workers at the assembly complex required a peaceful
and safe environment to enable them to perform optimally.

“We have asked our workers to report to the office of Head of
Service where schedule duties will be assigned to them.

“Assembly workers will remain in the office of the Head of
Service till total peace and safety is reassured,’’ Udoh said.

NAN reports that the present leadership of Anambra State House
of Assembly led by the new Speaker, Mr Ikem Uzoezie, said that the
police illegally sealed the complex and urged the Inspector General
of Police, Ibrahim Idris to call his men to order.

Uzoezie said that ordering civil servants working in the complex
to report to the Head of Service office, was uncalled for, as there
was no record of violent incident or its resemblance that demanded
such attention.

“It is only the National Assembly that is constitutionally
empowered to issue such an order to seal an assembly complex in
line with Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

“Legislators held their normal meetings at the Assembly on
November 15 with over 25 lawmakers in attendance, including the
former Speaker Mrs Rita Maduagwu (who for obvious reasons refused
to join us).

He said that the lawmakers are being hindered from performing
their legislative functions.

(NAN)

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