‘Dangerous for lawmakers’ — reps minority leader laments leaking roof of n’assembly complex

Ndudi Elumelu, minority leader in the house of representatives, has expressed concern over the leaking roof of the national assembly complex.

Elumelu spoke on the floor of the lower chamber during Wednesday’s plenary session.

In recent weeks, the national assembly complex has been flooded — usually after heavy downpour.

The complex was flooded again on Wednesday.

The source of the leak is the dome of the complex, which houses the main lobby that leads to the chambers of the senate and the house of representatives.

At plenary on Wednesday, Elumelu raised a point of order and said the flooded complex is “dangerous” for the lawmakers.

“If something is not done to address it,  nobody owns one’s life, but we never can tell what can happen,” Elumelu said.

“Coming into this place, you can see the cleaners; they are busy packing [mopping] the water that is coming down from this chamber. And to me, it is dangerous for our continuous participation in our day-to-day activities — representing our people, speaking for our people, for good legislation.

“So, I think that Mr Speaker, something needs to be done to address these leakages that we are having within this chamber. This is my submission.”

Responding, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, said: “Very important matter of privilege that affects the whole house in terms of the infrastructure here. Point of order noted.”

In 2019, the national assembly had budgeted over N30 billion for the renovation of the complex.

However, some Nigerians had criticised the sum earmarked for the renovation, and the budget was later reviewed to N9 billion.

Meanwhile, no recent maintenance work has been carried out on the building.