Proposed N37bn NASS renovation Project: Channel the money into the upgrade of schools, hospitals across Nigeria – Reps members

National Assembly Service Commission

Proposed N37bn NASS renovation Project: Channel the money into the upgrade of schools, hospitals across Nigeria – Reps members

 

Reactions have continued to trail the proposed N37 billion meant for the renovation of the National Assembly.

This time, some members of the House of Representatives, through a series of tweets have rejected the amount earmarked to embark on the project.

In series of  tweets, three lawmakers; Bamidele Salam, Akin Alabi, and Legor Idagbo shared the opinion that the National Assembly does not need to spend as much as N37 billion for renovation.

According to them, only an upgrade in the audio and recording system of the chambers is needed and not the entire structure.

The lawmakers, however, proposed that instead of spending such an amount on the project, the money should be channeled into the upgrade of schools and hospitals across the country.

According to Bamidele Salam, “I am a member of NASS but I sincerely do not think we need a 37 billion Naira renovation of that edifice now.

Apart from the Chambers of NASS which need some upgrade in the audio & recording system, the entire structure needs no renovation more than our classrooms, hospitals and roads which are mostly in a decrepit condition.

As an advocate of an aggressive microcredit strategy for job creation, I would rather want to see 370,000 small businesses get 100k interest free loan within 12 months rather than have 1 edifice swallow that sum within the same period.

If we mop up all funds voted for renovations of the Presidential villa and other offices of political leaders and top civil servants, we will raise more than a quarter of a trillion Naira that can be injected into SMES in the coming year.

I will, by God’s grace, be making this open advocacy on the floor of the House of Representatives when the House reconvenes in January.

It is never late to change a wrong policy”!

HonLegor wrote, “As a member of the NASS, I don’t believe that the complex needs any renovation that would cost the country N37bn. We need more upgraded classrooms and hospitals to cater for the Nigerian people”.

Similarly, “Oloye Akin Alabi also wrote, “I see no reason why we should spend N37bn renovating the National Assembly. Yes, we need upgrade on some aspects like the electronic systems (sound system, voting system etc) as they are outdated but N37bn? No. Let’s spend that on our schools and hospitals.

Reactions have continued to trail the proposed N37 billion meant for the renovation of the National Assembly.

This time, some members of the House of Representatives, through a series of tweets rejected the amount earmarked to embark on the project.