The National Assembly has explained
that no money was released for the renovation of the National Assembly complex.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers also said
the National Assembly and its leadership is not responsible for the maintenance
and renovation of the National Assembly Complex and they have not received a
sum of N37 billion or any amount for the renovation of the Complex.
This was revealed in a statement
signed on Wednesday by Senate Spokesperson, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru
following the leaking of its roof after a downpour on Tuesday.
See Full Statement
Below…
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATION OF THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY COMPLEX
….NO MONEY RELEASED
FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
1. Contrary to the widespread falsehood being
peddled both in the mainstream and online media as a fall out of the reported
incident of the leaking roof of the National Assembly Complex after a heavy
downpour on Tuesday, 21 June 2021, it is pertinent to inform the General Public
that the National Assembly and its leadership is not responsible for the maintenance
and renovation of the National Assembly Complex and they has not received a sum
of 37 billion naira or any amount for the renovation of the Complex.
2. While it is true that an initial appropriation
of the above stated sum was made due to the decaying nature of the National
Assembly Complex which has not witnessed any major maintenance or overhauling
since construction, the said amount was reduced to 9 billion naira after the
breakout of COVID-19 pandemic. Even with this reduction, the sum of 9 billion or
any amount is yet to be cash backed or released to the National Assembly. None
of this amount is even appropriated for the National Assembly bureaucracy or
its leadership.
3. It must be reiterated that the National
Assembly Complex is a National Monument which falls under the purview of
control of the Federal Capital Development Agency. In essence, the FCDA is
responsible for its maintenance as well as renovation and not the Leadership of
the National Assembly as being falsely bandied about.
4. The leakage witnessed at the foyer of the
National Assembly yesterday justifies the apprehension of the leadership of the
National Assembly and the FCDA and further underscores the need for an urgent
intervention in revamping the dilapidated structures within the complex before
it falls into further dilapidation with the attendant huge cost of a possible
replacement.
Signed
Senator
Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru Ph.D.
Senate
Spokesperson
Dated
this 23rd day of June, 2021
0 Comments