The National Assembly continues to struggle with malfunctioning electronic voting equipment and faulty microphones more than two years after lawmakers returned to chambers renovated at a reported cost of N37 billion, raising fresh questions over the value of the refurbishment.

The Senate and House of Representatives vacated their chambers between April 2022 and April 2024 while renovation works were carried out at the National Assembly complex.

The project, initially approved by former president Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, drew public criticism over its cost before being completed in stages.

Despite the extensive rehabilitation, lawmakers have repeatedly reported technical failures affecting plenary proceedings.

The most significant concern has been the breakdown of the electronic voting system, forcing both chambers to revert to manual voting during consideration of major constitutional amendments.

On June 11, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas informed lawmakers that the electronic voting system could not be used during deliberations on the state police bill.

“The electronic voting system is right now not working, so we are going to do a head count,” Abbas said before members voted manually.

The Senate also abandoned electronic voting on June 24 after its voting device reportedly developed a technical fault while considering the same constitutional amendment.

Beyond the voting system, faulty microphones have continued to disrupt legislative proceedings.

During debate on the state police proposal, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu was seen repeatedly attempting to restore a malfunctioning microphone before proceedings continued.

Several lawmakers have also been forced to move from their assigned seats to colleagues’ desks to use functioning microphones during debates.

Journalists covering plenary from the public gallery have also complained of poor audio quality, saying debates are often difficult to follow because speakers cannot be heard clearly.

Concerns over the renovated chambers emerged shortly after lawmakers returned in 2024.

Senator Ali Ndume criticised the facilities during plenary in May that year, describing the Senate chamber as resembling a conference room rather than a modern legislative chamber.

“There is no voting device here. If we are to vote electronically, the facilities are not there, but we had that previously,” Ndume said at the time.

Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that the renovation contract had been awarded during the previous National Assembly under the leadership of former Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

The failure of the electronic voting system has also renewed debate over parliamentary voting procedures, particularly on constitutional amendments that require the support of at least two-thirds of lawmakers. (Guardian)

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