There was a downpour in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Tuesday morning, leading to leaking roofs and flood in some parts of the National Assembly Complex.
Checks revealed that the downpour caused the National Assembly lobby which adjoins the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers to be flooded.
Some of the other areas affected were the Senate press center; the third and last gate to the premises; as well as the road linking the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the National Assembly.
Cleaners were subsequently directed to mop the water as they were seen struggling to salvage the situation. They also placed buckets at the leaking spots.
The leadership of the National Assembly had in 2020 approved N37billion for the renovation of the complex, built about 27 years ago.
Investigation however revealed that last year, there was public outcry against the alleged allocation of N27 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja in the 2020 Budget.
Director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, later clarified that only N9.2 billion was provided for renovation/retrofitting of the National Assembly (NASS) complex in the revised budget as against N27 billion.
He further disclosed that “the initial provision of N37bn in the 2020 Appropriation Act for this was cut by 75 per cent due to the impact of COVID-19 on government revenues.”
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan said the allocation was because there has been no major renovation of the complex for 20 years, and “many parts of the complex are dilapidated.”
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