Members of the House of Representatives on resumption of Tuesday legislative activities expressed grave concerns over the non-functional air-conditioners in the Lower Chamber.
The lawmakers frowned against the development during the debate on the point of order sponsored by Hon Haruna Dederi (APC-Kano).
In his lead debate, Hon Dederi said: “Sir, Order 7 of the Rules of this House has given you powers to absolutely control whatever goes on here to preserve decorum. To preserve the atmosphere within which we should operate.
“We are suffocating because the place is extremely hot. In my opinion Sir, we could have a way of either adjourning the business of the day or give time so that the air conditioners can be out in proper shape. Whatever thing that you can do to save us from this physical situation in which we live,” he urged.
In his intervention, the Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila who frowned at the development, said: “It is a good point and it is something I just conferred with the Deputy Speaker, I think what we would do is, that is why I said to read your titles and go to your prayers; we put the question; no debates and we try and run through this as quickly as we can.
“Because we have a couple of matters under consideration for the committee of the whole, which I think we should quickly address. We take this one and go straight to consideration of reports, so we can leave here.”
To this end, the Speaker mandated the Clerk, Barrister Chnedu Akabueze to: “make sure that the AC here is working tomorrow.
“We have to begin the debate of the budget and we cannot do it under this condition. It is very important and very imperative that it is working tomorrow.”
On his part, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon Toby Okechukwu stressed the need to address the leaving roof of the House of Representatives Chamber.
He said: “Mr Speaker, you alluded to the inclement weather environment here and gave instructions that it should be done.
“I also want to make mention that we are also challenged infrastructurally here. The other time we were fairly embarrassed by the roofs that were leaking and would expect that the landlord and the owners of the structure which is the FCDA would take appropriate action to make sure that we stay in a very clement environment to do our business.
“Because essentially most of the time Nigerians misread the occupants to be the person responsible for the structure. So if you look around you find out that this structure is heavily challenged apart from the cooling system.
“So I think in addition to that appropriate action should be taken by the FCT administration to make adequate repairs and maintain the structure.”
To this end, the Speaker also urged the Clerk to “write a formal letter to the Permanent Secretary enumerating these issues. This building belongs not to the National Assembly but to the FCT and they should make it conducive for us.”
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