The Nigerian Senate has issued a one-month deadline to the contractor in charge of renovating the chambers.
The lawmakers issued a one-month deadline for contractors to fix the building’s audio communication system, or face consequences.
Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, announced the deadline during plenary on Tuesday.
He was visibly enraged after his microphone failed during proceedings and instructed Senate Services Chairman Sen. Karimi Sunday to immediately liaise with the contractor and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) to ensure that the job was completed to the standards appropriate for Nigeria’s status as one of Africa’s largest parliaments.
“We give between now and one month to have a system suitable for this chamber installed or we make further decisions,” he informed us.
The improvements include the installation of equipment that allow for real-time interpretation of proceedings in several languages, in line with standards used by other legislative organizations throughout the world.
He stated that failure to reach the deadline will force the Senate to take decisive action.
Akpabio has announced that the ₦54.2 trillion 2025 budget defense report will be submitted to the Senate during plenary this week.
Akpabio stated that the Committee on Appropriations will give the report on Wednesday or Thursday, highlighting the importance of wrapping up the debate on the 2025 budget.
“You will observe that some of our colleagues are not in the chamber because of the required final touches on the 2025 Appropriation Bill report, which will be laid before us tomorrow, Wednesday, or Thursday this week,” Akpabio said during Tuesday’s plenary.
“We need to close early to allow for collective efforts in that direction for final consideration and passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill,” the senator said.
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Earlier in the session, the Senate approved five legislation on first reading. These include the following:
– The Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution (1999 as modified) Amendment Bill 2025
– Bill to amend the Armed Forces Act in 2025
– The Federal Medical Centers Act Amendment Bill 2025, among other things.
In addition, the Senate approved a bill to alter the Federal University of Agriculture Act with the goal of establishing the Federal University of Agriculture in Abak, Akwa Ibom State.
Following the second reading, the bill was forwarded to the Committee on Agriculture for additional legislative review. The committee is anticipated to provide its report within three weeks.
