Contributing to a motion by Rep. Segun Adekola (PDP-Ekiti) at plenary on Wednesday April 24, Rep. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (PDP-Abia) urged the House of Representatives to demand that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) urgently set aside befitting quarters for serving legislators.
The duo expressed concern that following the sale of the Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja originally built to accommodate legislators, new members of the National Assembly face hardship of getting befitting accommodation.
The Federal Executive Council, in 2004, mandated the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to sell all Federal Government non-essential housing units in Abuja.
By this action, most of the houses are no longer occupied by legislators as they have since changed hands due to sales. It is said that over 80 percent of inhabitants of the legislative quarters are no legislators.
Because of this, Adekola urged the National Assembly to compel FCTA to change the name, Apo Legislative Quarters to reflect current realities. This motion was rejected outright.
Viewpoint Housing News wonders why a lawmaker would consider construction of houses for lawmakers this time again. Does it mean they are unaware of the shenanigans and rot that characterised the system?
When Apo Legislative Quarters was managed by FCDA, it was simply for despoliation. It was so bad that even marble wall covering would be forcefully removed and money voted for their replacement year in year out. It was like putting water in a basket. The more money was expended on maintaining the quarters, the more the need for repair works.
It was so bad that a particular incident stirred so much controversy in Nigeria, resulting in the shameful unseating of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh. Allegations of corruption and mismanagement that attended the renovation of her official residence and that of the Deputy Speaker, Babangida Ngoroje wafted round for long, generating scandal and tension that refused to go away.
In September 2007, a newspaper reported that Etteh had authorised the spending of N628 million on renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy, and the purchase of 12 official cars meant for the House of Representatives. Accusations of theft were chanted at her as she tried to speak in the House, and she was escorted out by security as the situation degenerated into a commotion. On October 30, 2007, following weeks of pressure, Etteh together with Nguroje resigned their positions.
A 19–page report by the House concluded that “Due Process was not followed completely in the award of contract for the renovation of the Speaker’s residence.”
It was revealed that while it cost N15 million to fix the Speakers residence in 2005, it took only N2.5 million to renovate the same residence in 1999.
It would be recalled that in June 2003, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, based on the recommendation of a committee headed by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ufot Ekaette directed that the fringe benefits of all public and political office holders be monetized. This paved way for the sale of the Apo houses.
It is therefore, troubling that despite selling these houses, government went back to embark on construction of another set of houses for the presiding officers of the National Assembly.
Many questions beg for answers. What really is the motive behind this call for setting aside of quarters for new legislators. Have the factors (top among them corruption) that prompted the sale of the Apo quarters been done away with?
By the way, is Nkem-Abonta not aware that residences for the presiding officers of the National Assembly are left uncompleted in the Three Arms Zone? Apparently, lack of money has stalled completion of that project. Julius Berger is the contractor. So where is the wisdom for call for additional houses for National Assembly members? Where will the money come from? Is this how huge resources are expended in the name of befitting accommodation for lawmakers in other climes? Is it a must that lawmakers live in Abuja? Can’t they come to Abuja from their constituencies?
Of course, with countless high-end property in Abuja (many unoccupied), why would it be hard for lawmakers who take jumbo pay find it hard to secure befitting accommodation?
Good news is that this call for new quarters for legislators was rejected. But this is not enough. FCTA should as well be freed from the burden of providing residences for the presiding officers of the National Assembly. The presiding officers have for years been working from their private residences, so what is the fuss? After all, there was no provision for quarters for presiding officers in the Three Arms Zone. Those structures left half-completed should be pulled down and the place reverted to its origin use in the Abuja Master Plan.
Building these houses is simply exhuming the problems government has avoided in the monetisation policy of 2004. In fact, government should look again if more of these houses can be sold. Never again should we return to the plague of locusts.
