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  • News - North Central - FCT
  • Updated: June 23, 2021

National Assembly Roof Leaking: Lawan Says N37bn Was Not Legislature’s Budget

National Assembly Roof Leaking: Lawan Says N37bn Was Not Leg

File Image of the leaking roof of the National Assembly

The President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, has faulted Nigerians and the media blaming the federal lawmakers for the non-rehabilitation of the National Assembly, following the leaking of its roof after a downpour on Tuesday.

Many Nigerians had taken to social media immediately after the report of the leaking roofs hit the media space on Tuesday.

Speaking at the plenary on Wednesday, the Senate President while ruling on a point of order raised on the matter by Senator Abdullahi Sabi, noted that those blaming the lawmakers are doing so in ignorance.

Lawan explained that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) was in charge of the maintenance of the structures in the National Assembly premises.

He recalled that the leadership of the National Assembly sometime in 2019, met with President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to rehabilitate the federal parliament.

He said the President approved N37bn for the rehabilitation of the national edifice but the FCDA was given the responsibility of doing so

Lawan said, “The fact that there was a leakage to me, is a clear testimony, confirmation, and vindication of the position the national assembly took initially.

“Everyone knows that this place is overdue for rehabilitation. We went to see Mr. President and he was gracious and he asked us to meet with FCTA, the owners of the building.

“Myself, the speaker, the late chief of staff, and the Minister of Finance met to look for money for the rehabilitation of the national assembly. When the N37 billion was approved it was not a national assembly budget, it was an FCDA budget.

“If this place leaks, we are not holding our democracy with the respect it has. We expect the press to inform the people responsibly

“This house is the house of Nigerians. It belongs to Nigerians and it deserves to be rehabilitated.”

Sabi, who is the Deputy Whip, had earlier said there was no leakage in the chamber but around the premises.

He said, “It was reported that because of that leakage, it delayed our sitting. That also was not correct. The leadership had housekeeping matters and until the leadership entered the chamber, sitting would not begin.

“Thirdly and the most critical, was that the leadership approved N37 billion for the rehabilitation. This is nothing further from the truth.”

“When the 9th Senate came on board, the leadership noticed dilapidation and the need for the rehabilitation of the national assembly complex.

“The Senate President and speaker approached Mr President to report this matter and we were all briefed that Mr President was willing to ensure that something is done about it.

“When the pandemic came, the N37bn was reduced to N9bn so we can take the rehabilitation in phases. As we speak nothing is being done.”

Cleaners hired by a facility firm that maintains the White House complex of the National Assembly had a hectic time scooping water from the federal Parliament on Tuesday.

Federal lawmakers, Parliamentary staff, journalists, and visitors to the apex legislative institution watched helplessly as rainwater was dropping uncontrollably from the ceiling of the white house during heavy rainfall.

The chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives were completed in1999 just before the death of General Sanni Abacha, the late military dictator.

The cleaners, numbering about 20, were immediately drafted to the lobby to scoop the water from the flooded part of the edifice.

The leaking roof also spread to the Press Centre in the Senate wing of the nation’s apex legislative institution and also disturbed staff of the private firms, especially banks located on the ground floor of the complex.

 

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