Lagos Assembly Crisis: PASAN Calls On Sanwo-Olu, CSOs To Intervene Over Members’ Arrest

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Lagos State Chapter, has condemned the detention of three staffers of the Lagos State House of Assembly by the Department of State Security Services (DSSS).

The detained members include two Sergeants-at-Arms officers and Public Affairs Officer, who were arrested for preventing the DSS officials from entering the chamber with firearms on Monday February 17, 2025 contrary to House norms.

State chairman of PASAN, Comrade Babatunde Ogunlana, condemned the humiliating arrest, detention and trial of the officers as abuse of power and gross violation of the rights of the staffers who were performing their statutory duties.
PASAN demands the immediate release of the detained staff members, calling on the authorities to institute a thorough investigation into their arrest, torture and continued detention with a view to forestall recurrence. The association further called on the DSS to uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety of the affected staff.

The statement signed by the chairman said “The union uses this medium to call for the  intervention of the Director General of the DSS  to  quash the frivolous trial of our members and ensure their immediate release

“We call on our labour friendly Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Olusola Sanwo-Olu, to prevail on the relevant authorities for justice in this matter.
“We call on the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and organised labour to rise in defense of democracy and rule of law as injury to one is injury to all to prevent future intimidation and harassment of workers by security agencies.”

PASAN said “The continued detention of our members raises genuine concerns for the health and safety of the affected staff, one of whom is asthmatic.
“The DSS’s intentions are questionable too as the association finds the prosecution of our members worrisome and unnecessarily subjecting our members to psychological trauma.

“We urge all relevant authorities to take immediate action to address this situation before it gets out of hand.”