The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has threatened legal action against the contractor responsible for renovating the National Assembly complex after repeated technical faults with the chamber’s microphones disrupted legislative proceedings.
Akpabio voiced his frustration during Wednesday’s plenary after several microphones malfunctioned, producing echoes and interrupting proceedings.
He described the recurring glitches as a national embarrassment, revealing that similar faults had also marred the opening ceremony of the National Assembly Week held in the House of Representatives chamber a day earlier.
According to him, both he and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, were embarrassed during the event because the same contractor handled the renovation of both legislative chambers.
The Senate President warned that if the defects persist, the National Assembly would not hesitate to explore legal options to compel the contractor to deliver a satisfactory job.
He urged senators to take note of the repeated failures, saying their observations would justify any action taken against the contractor, especially if questions arise after such measures are implemented.
The latest development adds to growing concerns over the quality of the renovation of the National Assembly complex, a project that reportedly lasted about two years.
Lawmakers had previously raised similar complaints shortly after returning to the refurbished chambers in 2024.
Former Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, had criticised the standard of the renovation, arguing that the work did not reflect the huge public funds committed to the project.
The rehabilitation of the National Assembly complex was awarded to Visible Construction Limited at a reported cost of ₦42 billion, despite an earlier approval of ₦37 billion for the project during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
