After a 40-day recess, members of the House of Representatives are gearing up to resume legislative activities. The resumption comes following a series of postponements and renovations to the House chambers.
The House had initially embarked on recess on March 20, 2024, announced by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to allow members to observe Easter and Eid-el-Fitr festivities. The original resumption date of April 16, 2024, was postponed by one week due to ongoing renovations in the House chamber. Another week-long postponement was announced, pushing the resumption date to April 30, 2024.
Now, with the completion of work in the chamber, the stage is set for legislative business to resume. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, along with former Speaker and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Kalu, inspected the renovated chambers of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the newly built National Assembly Library.
Expressing satisfaction with the renovations, Speaker Abbas praised the quality of work done and commended Gbajabiamila for spearheading the renovation project, as well as the construction of the NASS Library and the National Assembly Service Commission Complex.
Gbajabiamila, while expressing his delight at the progress made, stated his desire for the renovations to have been completed before he assumed his new role. He also credited the members of the 9th House for their support on the projects.
The renovation project marks a significant milestone as the White House section of the complex, housing both the House and Senate chambers, had not undergone major renovations since its construction during the military regime of late General Sani Abacha. Gbajabiamila’s initiative to renovate the chambers, which began in the 9th Assembly, has now come to fruition, allowing lawmakers to resume legislative duties in the newly refurbished chambers.