Despite efforts by the leadership of the upper chamber of the National Assembly to douse the tension over the seating arrangements in the Senate, the drama has continued.
The Senators who bickered over the same issue last week, faulted the new structure as the Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, described the renovated chamber as a conference room.
It will be recalled that complaints last week led to a rowdy session which lasted for about 15 minutes and eventually forced the Senate into executive session.
In the current week, the lawmakers spoke of alleged inadequacies in the chamber as the Chief Whip who raised the issues through Order 42 of the Senate Standing rules lamented that what was supposed to be a chamber has been turned into a conference hall and was unacceptable.
“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 Tuesday when we moved into this chamber that was supposed to have been renovated, there have been complaints here and there.
“First was on seating arrangements, followed by echoing of voices by microphones that are not even audible. No voting device, and required facilities not yet provided.
“We need to correct all these anomalies for the hallowed chamber to be what it is supposed to be,” he said.
Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, in his remarks said the observations were noted as he upheld the Chief Whip’s point of Order.
Senator Akpabio however explained to Ndume that complaints on sitting arrangements among Senators have been sorted out 99.9% just as he reminded him that the contract for the renovation work was not done by the 10th National Assembly.
He added, “This is not our contract and not even the National Assembly contract but that of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the landlord of the National Assembly Complex.
“Observations on inadequacies in the renovated chamber, are welcome from time to time for required perfection but what we should be aiming at in the long run, is for us as federal lawmakers to have proper autonomy on the National Assembly Complex and not continue as tenants of FCDA,” he added.
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