Although the Senate is scheduled to resume
plenary on Tuesday, June 28, new senators may not be ready for work as
they are currently grappling with the problem of securing residential
accommodation in the nation’s capital.
It was gathered that the lawmakers were faced with the burden of raising millions of naira being demanded by house owners in choice places, while getting accommodation in areas with adequate security was almost impossible.
Senator Smart Adeyemi, who heads an ad hoc committee of the Senate in charge of allocating offices to senators, confirmed the problem, saying it had become discouraging to the lawmakers.
He, however, noted that the office accommodation was ready and was not a problem as members were already getting their allotments.
Adeyemi said, “The problem facing new senators now is accommodation. It is not easy to get accommodation in Abuja right now. Do you know how much it costs to pay for a good accommodation in this city?
“That is why the sale of the Apo Legislative Quarters was a serious mistake. Where were you journalists when the government sold those quarters, now lawmakers can’t find accommodation. That is the huge problem right now.
“It is also very expensive to stay in a hotel in the city. It is very expensive. The new lawmakers are very disappointed.”
He also said besides getting good accommodation, it was important that lawmakers resided in secure place given the fact that comments made by a legislator on the floor could result to attacks from evil people.
Asked what solutions were available to the lawmakers’ problems, Adeyemi said there was no solution for now, wondering how the new lawmakers would cope when they resume next week.
The legislative quarters were sold to sitting members by the Obasanjo administration in line with the monetisation policy of the government, with the exception of the quarters of presiding officers.
Adeyemi recommended that the only solution to the problem was the reversal of the sales of the quarters, while the government should refund the monies of the buyers.
By Oluwole Josiah Courtesy Of: Punch
It was gathered that the lawmakers were faced with the burden of raising millions of naira being demanded by house owners in choice places, while getting accommodation in areas with adequate security was almost impossible.
Senator Smart Adeyemi, who heads an ad hoc committee of the Senate in charge of allocating offices to senators, confirmed the problem, saying it had become discouraging to the lawmakers.
He, however, noted that the office accommodation was ready and was not a problem as members were already getting their allotments.
Adeyemi said, “The problem facing new senators now is accommodation. It is not easy to get accommodation in Abuja right now. Do you know how much it costs to pay for a good accommodation in this city?
“That is why the sale of the Apo Legislative Quarters was a serious mistake. Where were you journalists when the government sold those quarters, now lawmakers can’t find accommodation. That is the huge problem right now.
“It is also very expensive to stay in a hotel in the city. It is very expensive. The new lawmakers are very disappointed.”
He also said besides getting good accommodation, it was important that lawmakers resided in secure place given the fact that comments made by a legislator on the floor could result to attacks from evil people.
Asked what solutions were available to the lawmakers’ problems, Adeyemi said there was no solution for now, wondering how the new lawmakers would cope when they resume next week.
The legislative quarters were sold to sitting members by the Obasanjo administration in line with the monetisation policy of the government, with the exception of the quarters of presiding officers.
Adeyemi recommended that the only solution to the problem was the reversal of the sales of the quarters, while the government should refund the monies of the buyers.
By Oluwole Josiah Courtesy Of: Punch
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