Leaked roof: Senate expresses anger over media report

Senate on Wednesday expressed anger over reports by some news outlet that the Senate Chambers was over flooded as a result of heavy downpour in Abuja on Tuesday.

The upper Chamber’s reaction followed Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi standing on Order 14 and 15, saying that the version of Channels Television’s report that the plenary was disrupted was completely untrue.

Senator Abdullahi representing Niger North Senatorial district complained that his right has been impinges by the report.

He noted that while the Channels TV’s report on the situation impinges on the privilege of the lawmakers, it was largely incorrect as it further accused the Senate of approving N37 billion for the renovation of the edifice.

He asked the leadership of the Upper Legislative Chamber to as a matter “of privilege, take up the matter immediately.”

Decrying the TV report, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, described the TV report as “irresponsible,” adding that it was aimed at “denigrating the Senate.”

He however pointed out that the report did not emanate from journalists at the National Assembly, who he said had demonstrated “patriotism in reporting activities in the Parliament.”

He recalled that the leadership of the National Assembly had earlier met with President Muhammadu Buhari when it requested a sum of N37billion to rehabilitate the edifice.

“But castigation from the media led to the budget slashed to N 9 billion.”

“I remember that myself and the Speaker of the House of Representatives(Hon. Demo Gbajabiamila) met with the President so that money can be releases for the rehabilitation of the building after it was used for 20 years without rehabilitation.

Mr President told us to go look for money. And I remember that myself, the late Chief of Staff to the President, Kyari, the Speaker and the Finance Minister, went about to look for money,” Lawan said.

He described Tuesday’s incident as a vindication of what the National Assembly foresaw, insisting that they acted as responsible tenants to protect the structure from deteriorating.