National Assembly Lawmakers Resume Plenary In Newly Remodeled Chambers

The Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives have reconvened today (Tuesday) after about 40 days of vacation.

Both Houses had been using temporary chambers since September 2022 after construction and renovation works commenced on their chambers in July 2022.

The lawmakers who had adjourned plenary activities for the Easter and Eid-el-Fitr break on 20 March 2024, were due to return on 16 April but twice extended their resumption.

Before proceeding on the vacation, both chambers of the National Assembly had extended the implementation of the capital component of the 2023 budget until June 2024.

They also extended the implementation of the N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary budget until June.

Electricity tariff increase

While the lawmakers were away, electricity tariff was increased for Band A consumers.

On Monday, April 29, the Senate commenced an investigative hearing to address the recent increase in the electricity tariffs in the country.

The chairman Senate Committee on Power, Senator Eyinnaya Ababribe said the investigative hearing was hinged on two motions presented at plenary on Tuesday, 25 July 2023 and Wednesday, 21st February 2024 where the Senate by its resolutions mandated the Committee on Power to engage with the Federal Ministry of Power, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders.

Senator Abaribe stated that the mandate of the committee was to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the Nigerian electricity sector, including the need for “comprehensive sector reforms”.

Read Also: Speaker Abbas, Gbajabiamila, Kalu Inspect Renovated Chambers Ahead Resumption

Lawmakers Begin Investigative Hearing On Electricity Tariff Hike

It would be recalled that there was a 240% hike in electricity tariffs for those who are classified as Band A electricity users.

Band A refers to customers who receive between 20 and 24 hours of electricity supply daily, which mainly means businesses.

The hike has ignited strong opposition from some stakeholders especially the manufacturers and organized labour.

The Senate through its committee on Power invited the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, and the heads of agencies under the ministry to an investigative hearing on the new electricity tariffs in Nigeria.

The minister said the major challenge in the sector was the absence of liquidity. He said that the sector has been operating on a subsidised tariff regime, given the absence of a cost-reflective tariff.

He, however, said the subsidy had not been funded over the years as huge liabilities were being owed to the Generating Companies (GenCos) and the Gas Companies.

However, members of the committee in their separate remarks decried the experiences of Nigerians on electricity supply over the years, despite the unbundling of the sector.

Senator Abaribe said what Nigerians wanted was a solution to the issue and ways to ensure liquidity in the sector.

He decried the non-appearance of ZIGLAKS over its failed agreement to provide prepaid meters for Nigerians.

He alleged that the company had received N32 billion in 20 years to meter Nigerian electricity consumers.

Newly remodeled National Assembly

Both the Senate and House of Representatives have been using temporary chambers after renovation work commenced in July 2022.

The reconstruction was initially billed to be completed and delivered in August 2022 but the delivery date was later moved to January 2023 and then December 2023.

In the last six weeks, the construction firm has carried out the required finishings on the upgraded and reconfigured chambers. They fixed and added state-of-the-art chairs, parliamentary equipment, appliances and extended sitting terraces.

The Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had in 2021 awarded the renovation contract to Visible Construction Nigeria Limited to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex.

Some of the critical segments are the office buildings housing the office accommodations for the senators and honourable members, the watertightness of the roof of the complex, the cooling system, replacement of the lifts that are inoperable among others.

Built in 1999, the National Assembly Complex is the legislative building of the National Assembly, the legislative body of Nigeria.

Nigeria’s National Assembly is a bicameral legislature established under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution.

It consists of a Senate with 109 members and a 360-member House of Representatives.

Renovation of the complex was approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh