The Lagos State House of Assembly and the Department of State Services (DSS) have found themselves in a heated disagreement over the agency’s presence at the legislative complex. While the DSS maintains that its operatives were invited to provide security, lawmakers argue that the security personnel overstepped their bounds by sealing off key offices, effectively disrupting legislative activities.
DSS Claims It Was Invited to Maintain Security
Contrary to allegations from the lawmakers, the DSS insists it was acting based on an official request. A letter from the Acting Clerk of the Assembly, A. Ottun, dated February 14, 2025, highlighted security concerns regarding an alleged plan to reinstate impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on February 18, 2025.
The letter, titled “Urgent: Enhanced Security Measures for LSHA Premises”, referenced credible intelligence that suggested a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members. Addressed to the DSS Director in Lagos and other security agencies, it stated:
“The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on February 18, 2025, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members. We kindly request necessary measures to fortify the security of the Assembly premises starting from Sunday, February 16, 2025, by increasing security presence and enforcing strict access control.”
DSS officials maintain that their presence was in direct response to this request and that their actions were in line with their security mandate.
Lawmakers Decry “Democratic Invasion”
Despite the DSS’ justification, lawmakers strongly condemned the agency’s conduct, describing it as “a rape on democracy, an aberration, and a national embarrassment.”
Following the Assembly staff’s forceful reopening of the chamber doors, 36 lawmakers convened for a plenary session. According to them, the DSS operatives—many of whom were masked—had unlawfully occupied the premises without proper notice or explicit invitation.
Legislative Committee Speaks Out
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, firmly refuted the DSS’ version of events. He stated:
“While it is true that the House has sought security support from the DSS in the past, previous instances have only involved security personnel stationed at the main gate of the Assembly complex to prevent unauthorized access.
“At no point did the letter requesting security assistance instruct the DSS to invade the legislative chamber, lock and restrict access to the Speaker’s office, or shut down the offices of the Acting Clerk and Deputy Speaker.”
Concerns Over Legislative Independence
The lawmakers argue that the DSS’ involvement in sealing off legislative offices represents an undue interference in legislative affairs. They assert that the sanctity of the Lagos State House of Assembly has been compromised and that such actions constitute a direct assault on democratic governance.
The standoff raises broader questions about the balance of power between security agencies and legislative institutions, highlighting the need for clear protocols when deploying security operatives within government institutions.
External Reference
For more on legislative security protocols, visit Nigeria’s Legislative Security Framework.
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