Jul 15, 2026

Akpabio Blasts NASS Renovation Failure: Billions Wasted, Mics Still Dead

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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ABUJA, Nigeria—In a rare moment of public frustration from the highest echelons of the legislature, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has openly condemned the quality of work on the multi-billion naira renovation of the National Assembly complex, describing ongoing technical failures as a national embarrassment.

Speaking during Wednesday’s plenary session, Akpabio highlighted repeated microphone malfunctions that disrupted Senate proceedings, forcing lawmakers to struggle with basic audio equipment in the newly refurbished red chamber.

He recalled suffering similar embarrassment alongside House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during the opening of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week at the House of Representatives the previous day.

“The same contractor that handled the renovation of the House of Representatives handled this one,” Akpabio stated.

“If this continues, we have steps we can take legally to ensure that a good job is done because this is an embarrassment to our nation.”

The Senate leadership is now documenting the recurring faults and has warned of potential legal action against the contractor if the issues persist.

Lawmakers have been forced to abandon the electronic voting system — which remains largely inoperative — and revert to manual voting even on critical bills, including proposals on state police.

The National Assembly complex underwent extensive renovation, with reports over the years citing expenditures running into tens of billions of naira.

The project was intended to modernize facilities for Nigeria’s apex legislative body.

However, since both chambers resumed sittings in the refurbished complex in April 2024, persistent problems with microphones, audio quality, and electronic systems have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and the public alike.

Akpabio’s comments come amid broader public scrutiny of government spending priorities at a time when many Nigerians face economic hardships.

Critics argue that such high-profile projects should deliver world-class functionality rather than recurring embarrassment.

This episode underscores deeper concerns about project execution, contractor accountability, and value for money in Nigeria’s public procurement processes.

For ordinary citizens, it raises uncomfortable questions: If the National Assembly — the very institution that approves national budgets — cannot ensure quality delivery on its own renovation, how can Nigerians trust the management of far larger infrastructure projects nationwide?

Akpabio’s willingness to call out the failures publicly may signal a push for greater oversight, but it also highlights systemic issues in how public funds are utilized.

The Senate President urged senators to take note of the problems so that future actions against the contractor are well understood.

As the 10th National Assembly continues its work on critical national issues — from constitutional amendments to economic reforms — the expectation remains high that legislative facilities should support, not hinder, effective lawmaking.

Nigerians will be watching to see whether this embarrassment leads to concrete improvements or becomes another footnote in the long history of expensive but underperforming government projects.