…By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media. Around a hundred members of the House of Representatives in Abuja voiced their discontent on Tuesday, alleging a discriminatory approach in allocating seats and offices to the lawmakers.
They expressed concerns that this could potentially disrupt legislative activities if not addressed promptly.
First-Time Members Object to Unsuitable Seats in Temporary Chambers
The protesting lawmakers, many of whom are first-time members, specifically objected to the seats assigned to them in one of the temporary chambers located on the third floor, deeming them unsuitable.
They also expressed dissatisfaction with the distribution of offices among the members.
House Committee on Welfare Responsible for Seat Allocation
The House Committee on Welfare, headed by Rep. Olawale Raji (APC-Lagos), was responsible for allocating seats to the members.
According to the committee’s list, 240 members were assigned seats on the second floor, while a few members, including some newcomers, were given seats on the ground floor.
Speaker Urges Calm and Assures Readiness of Main Chamber
In response to the unrest, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, called for calm among the members.
He assured them that the main Chamber, which is currently undergoing renovation, would be ready before the House resumed from its break.
Committee Chairman Explains Office Allocation and Seating Arrangement
Rep. Khadijat Bukar-Ibrahim, Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee on Media, acknowledged the minor uproar during the plenary session.
She clarified that the Welfare Committee was responsible for office allocation and that all members had been assigned an office.
Regarding seating, she explained that due to the temporary seating area’s limited capacity, some members had to be accommodated upstairs.
Speaker’s Directive to Occupy Available Seats Downstairs
To resolve the issue, the Speaker directed the members to occupy any available seat they find downstairs. This solution was welcomed by all members, according to Bukar-Ibrahim.