President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), is aware of the planned renovation of the National Assembly complex in 2020.

He said N37bn had been included in the Federal Capital Development Agency 2020 budget to that effect.

Lawan, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Monday, explained that the complex, built about 20 years ago, was now rather dilapidated.

Lawan said, “When we resumed office (at) the National Assembly Complex, we noticed that many parts of the National Assembly complex were dilapidated.

“We convened a meeting involving the management of the National Assembly, the Federal Capital Development Authority, Speaker of the House of Representatives and I.

“We had an exhaustive engagement. The Speaker and I later met with Mr. President and we told him the situation of the complex.

“Since the takeover of the complex, there was never, ever, any major rehabilitation or renovation, 20 years ago.

“Mr. President responded by telling us that he was going to renovate the National Assembly.

“We went back to continue the engagement with the National Assembly management and the FCDA.

“Eventually, we took what is required to renovate the phase one of the project.

“This includes the two chambers, the dome and other committee rooms and offices within the White House.

“N37bn was sourced and was approved and put under the FCT, not under the National Assembly.”

Lawan said that the project would be executed by the FCDA because the National Assembly is a national monument.

He said, “All we require is to have the National Assembly complex renovated, including the reconfiguration of the two chambers and of the Press Centre.

“We have the opportunity, after 20 years, to embark on the renovation of phase one (of the) building of the National Assembly. When we are through with the phase one, we will go to phase two.

“The National Assembly complex is a national asset being managed by the FCDA.”