#EndSARS: We Won’t Pass 2021 Budget Without Compensation Provision For Police Brutality – Reps

– No Budget Until ASUU’s Demands Are Captured

– House To Debate New Bill On Independent Police In Two Weeks

The House of Representatives will not pass the 2021 budget until provisions are made for the payment of adequate compensation to victims of police brutality over the years.

The House is also to receive and debate in the next two weeks, a new bill on an independent police that is citizen-driven and accountable to the people of Nigeria.

The Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, made the disclosure in a live broadcast at the commencement of plenary on Tuesday in Abuja to address the ongoing #EndSARS protests.

Gbajabiamila added that the budget would also not be passed if adequate provision was not made in it to address the issues that had led to the lengthy strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other higher institutions.

He noted that like police brutality, the closure of educational institutions and other facilities, were issues affecting youth development and the future of the country.

“I will not sign off the 2021 budget that does not contain adequate compensation for the victims of police brutality over the decade…

“I will not sign off a budget that does contain adequate provision for ASUU to address the education of our youths…”, Gbajabiamila stated shortly before lawmakers went into an executive session.

He recalled that efforts made so far by both the executive and the leadership of the National Assembly to end the protests had not yielded results, an indication that the pains borne by the youths for many years were beyond mere promises.

Gbajabiamila observed that the protests had only grown bigger, despite the promise made by government to meet the demands of the protesters.

He said the development called for real policy decisions and actions by government to meet the yearnings of the young people.

However, Gbajabiamila appealed to them to leave the streets for now, having made their voices loudly heard in Nigeria and across the globe.

He noted that this was the time to leave the streets and sit with the authorities for more impactful discussions on how to advance their concerns.

The speaker also advised them to guard the protests jealously and must not allow hoodlums and persons with a hidden agenda to change the focus.