Copyright pointblanknews
By Tracy Moses A day after contractors barricaded the entrance of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, disrupting movement in and out of the premises, the House of Representatives on Wednesday resumed plenary and immediately went into a closed-door executive session that lasted about two hours. On Tuesday, the contractors, who claimed they were being owed for projects executed for the National Assembly, staged a protest at the main gate, preventing staff, visitors, and lawmakers from gaining access to the complex. Their demonstration caused a major gridlock around the area and raised concerns about security and administrative order within the legislative premises. Despite assurances that their concerns would be addressed, the contractors returned on Wednesday morning, once again blocking the main entrance and making access to the complex difficult for everyone. Many staff members and visitors were reportedly stranded outside the gates for hours. Wednesday’s plenary was expected to focus on the fallout from the protest and other pressing national issues. However, immediately after resumption, lawmakers went into an executive session that lasted for about two hours before moving from the Chamber to Room 028 to continue the meeting. As of the time of filing this report, 2:36 p.m., the lawmakers were still in the executive session. The details of the discussions held behind closed doors were not made public. It is believed that part of the deliberations may have centered on the contractors’ grievances and possible steps toward resolving the impasse. The House is expected to reconvene later in the day to continue with its legislative business once the closed-door meeting concludes
