Senate President Godswill Akpabio has warned that the National Assembly may pursue legal action against the contractor responsible for renovating the legislative complex following persistent faults affecting the National Assembly microphones used during plenary sessions. Akpabio issued the warning on Wednesday after repeated microphone failures disrupted Senate proceedings, preventing lawmakers from making clear contributions during debates.
Addressing senators during plenary, the Senate President described the recurring technical issues as unacceptable, saying the faulty National Assembly microphones have become a source of embarrassment for both the legislature and the country. He urged lawmakers to take note of the situation, stressing that the defects were evident to everyone present. According to him, the failures have persisted despite previous concerns, making it necessary for the Senate leadership to consider further action.
Akpabio recalled experiencing the same technical difficulties while representing the Senate at the opening of the National Assembly Week hosted by the House of Representatives. He explained that both the Senate and House chambers were renovated by the same contractor, adding that the microphone failures affected proceedings in both legislative arms. The Senate President said the incident embarrassed both himself and the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the event.
Warning that the legislature would not tolerate substandard work, Akpabio said legal measures could be taken if the contractor failed to correct the defects. He maintained that public funds must deliver quality results, especially on projects involving critical government institutions.
The Senate President also asked lawmakers to remember the repeated failures witnessed during plenary, noting that any future decision against the contractor would be based on the documented performance of the renovated facilities. He further remarked that if criticism emerges after action is taken, senators would understand the reasons behind the National Assembly’s decision, having personally witnessed the recurring technical failures during legislative proceedings.
