Akpabio threatens legal action against contractor responsible for defective microphones at National Assembly

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has vowed to take legal action against the contractor responsible for the renovation of the National Assembly complex due to persistent technical issues plaguing facilities in both the Senate and House of Representatives chambers.

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Akpabio expressed his discontent over the recurring microphone failures in the Senate chamber during plenary on Wednesday, deeming the situation an embarrassment to Nigeria.

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The Senate President's frustration stems from his experience at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, where he and the Speaker were embarrassed by faulty facilities during the opening of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week.

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Akpabio warned that the Senate would take legal steps if the faults persist, noting that the same contractor handled the renovation of both chambers, and this is unacceptable given the embarrassment it causes to the nation.

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The Senate leadership is documenting the recurring technical failures, including microphone issues, as part of preparations for possible action against the contractor, according to Akpabio.

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Lawmakers have continued to experience technical challenges, including microphone failures, poor audio quality, and malfunctioning electronic voting systems, since returning to the refurbished chambers in April 2024, despite the billions of naira spent on the renovation.

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The technical issues have also affected proceedings during the constitutional amendment process, particularly during voting on the State Police Bill, when the Senate had to resort to manual voting after persistent electronic voting system failures.

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The recurring faults have raised concerns among governance observers regarding transparency, efficiency, and compliance with legislative procedures, highlighting the need for a reliable and functional system.