Why we needed N70 billion – Reps members explain
Sequel to the ongoing debate on N70 billion budgeted for the National Assembly, two members in the House of Representatives have explained what the fund would be used for.
Recall during the week, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) gave the leaderships of the assembly seven days to drop the purported N110 billion allocation in the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act budgeted for the purchase of luxury vehicles and palliatives.
Explaining what the funds will be used for, member for Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara Federal Constituency in Cross River State, Peter Akpanke, and his counterpart representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency in Enugu State, Dennis Agbo said the money will used for renovations in the new chambers.
“There is a lot of work to be done, if you go to the National Assembly, what is being renovated at the moment is the main chambers and we are using the temporary chambers,” Akpanke said in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday.
“Most of the members of the National Assembly did not return, most of us are new members. The offices need to be renovated, most offices are not in good condition and it is unfortunate that this was not done before we were sworn in.
“If you go to some places, you would see certain things that you won’t like, water is leaking in some places and all those things need to be fixed.”
Also, Agbo, a Labour Party member, was in sync with his colleague saying that the National Assembly complex was in a dilapidated state and in need of renovation.
“As sessions come and go, the entire complex ages. No member is going to collect one naira, it is to improve the working conditions,” he said.
“If the cost of that renovation or improving the working conditions is considered too high by Nigerians, they have the opportunity to still query it through their representatives.”
They further explained that the National Assembly leadership had a breakdown of how the money would be spent.
“Until the money comes, I think the leadership would give Nigerians a proper breakdown on how they intend to spend this money and how the money is spent,” Akpanke said.
According to him, the money approved was passed into the supplementary budget and has all its subheads.
He urged Nigerians not to be in a hurry to talk about the amount, but rather to follow up on how the money is being used.