Posted by From JAMES OJO, Abuja on
Moves have begun by the National Assembly to reclaim Tafawa Balewa Square, the original seat of the lawmakers from the Executive arm of government. To this end, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole has met with President Umaru Yar' Adua on the matter.
Moves have begun by the National Assembly to reclaim Tafawa Balewa Square, the original seat of the lawmakers from the Executive arm of government. To this end, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole has met with President Umaru Yar' Adua on the matter.
A source at the Speaker's office confirmed that Bankole had already approached the President on the need to allow the National Assembly repossess the giant complex, which has been slated for privatisation by the Bureau of Public Enterprises [BPE].
It was gathered that the President told the Speaker to follow Due process and rule of law if his facts on the complex are correct.
According to the source, before the Speaker met with the President on the desire of the National Assembly to repossess the complex, he made wide consultation with some senior citizens who were lawmakers and had used the place in the past before the National Assembly was moved to Abuja.
Bankole was told that the parliament in the last three Republics used the place but that when the federal capital was moved to Abuja the place was abandoned.
However, the National Assembly was still maintaining a liaison office at the TBS, but it is not being adequately funded, as most of the offices have been taken over by the Federal Ministry of Commerce which leased most of the available spaces for religion and social engagements.
When the House resumes, it was gathered that the issue of the TBS would come as a Motion on Matters of Urgent National Importance, after which the Attorney General of the Federation would be mandated to facilitate the transfer, stopping the proposed concession agreement by BPE, since it is a national monument.
After the possession, the two chambers will discuss the number of staff to be retained and how the complex would be managed.