NASC Mulls Building New Houses, Quarters For 469 Federal Lawmakers
The Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Chief Saviour Enyiekere, has urged the construction of new Legislative Quarters in Abuja to address challenges of accommodation, insecurity, and poor coordination faced by federal lawmakers.
Enyiekere made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, where he also proposed the formal establishment of a National Council of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly.
He lamented that most lawmakers currently reside in scattered accommodations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), many of them on the outskirts, exposing them to insecurity, traffic congestion, and logistical difficulties that hinder legislative coordination.
Tracing the history of lawmakers’ housing, Enyiekere recalled that the Apo Legislative Quarters, built under Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar’s administration, provided secure and centralised accommodation that enhanced productivity. However, the quarters were later sold under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s monetisation policy, leaving subsequent legislators to make private housing arrangements.
The NASC chairman said new Legislative Quarters could be tied to a revolving housing policy in which government constructs and sells houses while reinvesting proceeds in new housing projects. Such an approach, he argued, would not only address lawmakers’ needs but also contribute to bridging Nigeria’s housing deficit.
On his proposal for a Council of Former Presiding Officers, Enyiekere explained that the body would serve as a think-tank to provide advice, inspiration, and institutional memory in support of the legislature.
The visit marked his first official engagement since the inauguration of the 6th NASC on May 5, 2025. He assured the Speaker that the Commission under his leadership would uphold equity in recruitment and other exercises, ensuring fair representation across the country.
