Senators, Reps Move Belongings Out Of Offices

Some senators and House of Representatives members complied with the National Assembly management’s directive on Monday by moving their personal items out of their various offices in the Federal Parliament.

The National Assembly management on Monday had issued a procedural directive to the lawmakers to remove their personal belongings in order to prepare the offices for re-allocation in the weeks ahead.

On Monday utility vehicles owned by the lawmakers packing away refrigerators, television sets, tables, chairs, rugs, books, pictures, computers and other electronic items.

Aides of some of the legislators were also seen directing contract staff working as cleaners in the complex, to pack and load their principals’ belongings onto the utility vehicles parked in front of the new Senate and House of Representatives’ wings.

Investigation revealed that most of the 301 House members and the 76 senators who lost their bids to return to the federal parliament, had since been removing their personal belongings, after the elections.

Some members of staff of the National Assembly were seen with souvenirs given to them by the lawmakers, while the cleaners had a busy day conveying loads of unwanted items to the dump site.

A female lawmaker had, early last week, reportedly broke down in tears when she sighted her belongings, especially portraits, removed from her office by her aides and packed in front of the complex, awaiting evacuation.

The lawmaker, according to investigation, had out of anger that she lost re-election into the House, ordered her aides to pack out her personal items from the office only for her to burst into tears when she sighted her portraits, packed outside the lobby.

One of the senators who is contesting the Senate presidency had also earlier asked his aides to remove his belongings from the office because, according to his aides, another office would be allocated to him after the inauguration of the 8th Senate.

One of the aides to one of the senators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said his boss instructed him and others to remove his belongings from the office.

He said his boss had started preparing his personal office where he would retire to after the expiration of the tenure of the 7th Senate on June 4.

It was not clear whether all the items being removed actually belonged to the senators and House members or were simply being “looted” by their aides as their bosses were not around on Monday to supervise the packing.