Senate president, Akpabio decries influx of hoodlums into NASS complex

President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio on Friday, expressed concern over the influx of hoodlums into the National Assembly complex, stressing that lawmakers now feel threatened by their presence.

He said as the 10th NASS settles down for legislative activities, hoodlums and people who do not have any business in the premises, loiter all over the Senate and Reps wings, begging and constituting a security breach against lawmakers and staff of the National Assembly.

Akpabio spoke while hosting members of the National Assembly Service Commission, who paid a courtesy call on him at the NASS complex, in Abuja.

The Senate President’s complaints followed remarks by the Chairman of the NASC, Ahmed Kadi Amshi, who presented the challenges faced by the Commission and other issues to him.

In reaction to the issues of staff allowances raised by the Commission’s Chairman, Akpabio said he was aware of enormous resources channelled towards staff comfort, adding that everything was not about the welfare of staff.

Decrying the infrastructural decay, filthiness and insecurity at the complex, the Senate President said there were cases of lawmakers losing their telephones and other valuables to hoodlums who position themselves at strategic places and in front of offices.

He also lamented the infrastructural rot and untidy environment in which the 10th Assembly operates.

Akpabio said, “we are aware that the entire complex is under renovation. We must also look after the environment. It is not all about the staff, we will like to see a cleaner environment and a secure complex.

“A lot of Senators have lost their telephones because of the influx of people into the complex”.

He emphasised that the National Assembly remains the symbol of democracy, stressing that the 10th Senate is poised to make history through legislation.

Earlier, Amshi congratulated the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President, saying they were experienced public officers.

He appealed to lawmakers to send the list of their legislative aides for documentation.

“By September let us finish the issue of legislative aides” Amshi said.