By Onyedi Ojiabor and Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Following the public outcry that trailed Tuesday flooding of the National Assembly foyers after a down pour, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) says the general repair of the complex is being delayed by bureaucratic bottlenecks. The FCDA said in Abuja that contract for the total rehabilitation and upgrading of the NASS Complex is “currently undergoing procurement process in line with the Procurement Act of 2007.”

Video of National Assembly workers and legislative aides mopping the foyer on Tuesday went viral and got many Nigerians wondering why the structure was left to deteriorate to a state of “national embarrassment.” First to react to the development was Senate President Ahmad Lawan who said the fund budgeted for the renovation of the complex in 2020 was not released. The sum of N37 billion was originally voted for the complex renovation but was later reduced to N9billion owning to public outcry over the huge amount.

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However, the FCDA which is saddled with the responsibility of managing the National Assembly Complex said the machinery had been set in motion to rectify the situation. Although it did not specifically say whether the N9 billion was released as budgeted, the agency yesterday said contract for the renovation was undergoing procurement process in line with the Procurement Act of 2007. Spokesman for the agency Richard Nduul said the leaking roof was caused by “blockages of drainages leading to seepage of water through expansion joints in the roof slab.”

He added: “Full waterproofing of the roof of the White House building is a major aspect of the proposed renovation of the National Assembly Complex. The Management of the National Assembly approached the FCDA in 2019 for a total rehabilitation and upgrading of the NASS Complex to bring it in tune with Parliamentary Buildings around the world. This contract is currently undergoing procurement process in line with the Procurement Act of 2007 and will therefore be awarded as soon as it is concluded in conformity with the requirements of the Act and also considering all other relevant parameters.

“The Authority (FCDA) therefore assures that when the time comes, this project will be executed meticulously in order to ensure that the nation gets value for the funds that will be expended as this has been the tradition with every other assignment which the Authority has undertaken.”