Staff members lament inconducive work environment as NASS resumes plenary tomorrow

As the National Assembly [Senate and House of Representatives] resumes plenary tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from the Sallah and Easter breaks, staff members of the arm of goverment are lamenting the poor facilities in the white House complex, which could impede their productivity at work.

THE CONCLAVE reports that the workers are, most importantly, complaining about the central cooling system that has lost its effectiveness, thereby leaving the offices in the White House, the expansive lobby, and other adjoining passages unserved.

The only places that are served are the Senate and the House of Representatives’ chambers.

A staff member lamented the failure of the contractors that handled the renovation of the complex for which N38 billion was budgeted and released when Senator Ahmad Lawan was chairman of the joint session of the National Assembly, to effect a complete overhaul of the central air conditioning system.

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The central cooling system used to be very effective such that the cooling effects in the expansive lobby would have been felt a few steps to the entrance of the lobby.

THE CONCLAVE reports: Not any more!

The excruciating weather and its attendant heat have become a major challenge to the staff members, workers of the banks, and other service providers and visitors who now sweat profusely as if they were working out in the gym.

THE CONCLAVE reports that when sitting is ongoing, the cooling system is regulated and diverted into the two respective chambers, leaving staff members and others to contend with the heat occasioned by the harsh weather.

Some staff members told THE CONCLAVE that no fewer than eight chillers running into billions of naira were lying fallow and wondered why.

According to one of them, “these chillers have the capacity to cool the entire complex and make the environment conducive for staff members and visitors.”

Another staff member raised a critical poser: “is it only the lawmakers that should enjoy a cool or conducive atmosphere to carry out their legislative business? What about the staff members, their aides and other essential service providers?”

Yet another poser by the staff member: “Is it that the N38 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex was not enough to cover the entire complex?”

Besides the issues around the central cooling system is the contractor’s inability to complete the servicing of the elevators to restore them to full functionality.

THE CONCLAVE reports that people have been subjected to use the stair cases to get to the third and fourth floors of the buildings.

THE CONCLAVE can confirm authoritatively that some officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, whose responsibility it is to maintain the NASS complex, were sighted in and around the NASS Complex on Monday evening for inspection of the complex.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas has, according to a grapevine, scheduled an inspection tour of the House Chamber for 10 O’clock, on Mobday night, to ascertain its readiness for plenary on Tuesday morning.

There have been suggestions in some NASS circles that the attention of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, had been adverted to the situation.

The contractors, as learnt, would be reined in and compelled to cure the mischief that escaped from their shoddy job.