A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Akin Alabi representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency has condemned plans to spend N37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex.
Alabi, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, in a tweet said there was “no reason” the National Assembly should spend such to renovate the complex.
“Yes, we need upgrade on some aspects like the electronic systems (sound system, voting system etc) as they are outdated but N37b? No. Let’s spend that on our schools and hospitals,” Alabi tweeted.
Alabi revealed that the budget was not debated nor discussed at the National Assembly.
“It was not discussed on the floor of the house. Renovation of National Assembly is not debated on the floor of the house,” he said while answering queries from one his followers on why he had not stood against while the budget was presented in the House.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari approved ₦37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex. The allocation was first mentioned by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who said Buhari approved the amount after lawmakers met with him to explain the poor condition of the legislative building in Abuja.
The budget has since attracted widespread condemnations from man Nigerians who took to social media to speak against such spending by the lawmakers.
Lawan, in the defence of the budget, told journalists that no major renovation had been done on the National Assembly property for 20 years and many parts of the property had become dilapidated.
“The phase one renovation will commence – the chambers and committee rooms in the white house. ₦37 billion was sourced and was given. It was put under the FCT, not national Assembly. All we require is to have the complex renovated,” Lawan said.
“When we are through with phase 1, we will go to phase 2. It is not under the control of the National Assembly. The complex is a national asset and is for the FCDA to take care.”
