‘CONFERENCE HALL’ – SENATORS COMPLAIN OVER POOR QUALITY OF RECONSTRUCTED SENATE CHAMBER

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The state of the rebuilt Chamber, which they referred to as a “mere conference room,” infuriated senators on Tuesday.

Since plenary returned to the renovated Senate Chambers last week, controversy has followed the venue.

Confusion followed last Tuesday’s plenary session when some senators argued over where to sit in the newly renovated chamber.

Tuesday’s plenary session was disrupted by a rowdy session that lasted for around fifteen minutes due to concerns about the caliber of the Chambers. As a result, the Senate was pushed into executive session.

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The Chief Whip of the Senate and lawmaker representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, who raised the issues through Order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules, said, “What is supposed to be a Chamber, has been turned into a Conference Hall”, a development which he said is not acceptable.

“Mr President, I rise to make disturbing observations on this supposedly renovated Chamber through Order 42 that deals with personal privileges.

“Since day one, precisely last week Tuesday when we moved into this Chamber that is supposed to have been renovated, there have been complaints here and there.

“First was on sitting arrangements, followed by echoing of voices by microphones that are even not audible, no voting device, required facilities not yet provided.

“We need to correct all these anomalies for the hallowed Chamber to be what it supposed to be,” Ndume said.

Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, said that he agreed with Ndume’s remarks and that the point of order should be upheld.

He however explained to Ndume that complaints on sitting arrangements among senators have been sorted out, just as he reminded him that the contract for the renovation work was not issued by the 10th National Assembly.

“This is not our contract and not even National Assembly contract but that of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, the landlord of the National Assembly Complex,” Akpabio said.

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