Senate President Godswill Akpabio has raised concern over the surge of hoodlums into the National Assembly compound, claiming that many senators have lost their phones as a result of the influx of people into the National Assembly complex.
On Friday, Akpabio revealed this to members of the National Assembly Service Commission, who paid him a courtesy call at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
He said, “We are aware that the entire complex is under renovation. We must also look out for the environment. It is not all about the staff; we would like to see a cleaner environment and a secure complex.
“A lot of Senators have lost their telephones because of the influx of people into the complex.”
The Senate President stressed that lawmakers have been threatened by the presence of the hoodlums.
The Senate President emphasized that the presence of hoodlums in the complex threatens lawmakers.
As stated by Akpabio, as the 10th NASS settles into legislative proceedings, hoodlums and persons with no business on the grounds wander all over the Senate and House wings, begging and posing a security risk to members and National Assembly employees.
In response to the Commission’s Chairman’s question about staff allowances, Akpabio stated that he was aware of vast sums channeled toward worker comfort but that everything was not about the welfare of staff.
Regarding the complex’s infrastructure decay, filthiness, and insecurity, Akpabio stated that there have been incidences of politicians losing their phones and other valuables to hoodlums who position themselves strategically in front of offices.
He also bemoaned the deterioration of infrastructure and the disorderly environment in which the 10th Assembly operates.
The National Assembly, according to Akpabio, remains a symbol of democracy, and the 10th Senate is set to make history through legislation.