In the 2024 Appropriation Bill, lawmakers have allocated an additional N30bn for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex.
This sum is part of the N344.85bn designated for the National Assembly, an increase from the initial N197.93bn allocation.
Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed this budget for the legislature on January 1.
With this supplementary N30bn, the total expenditure on the renovation now amounts to N60bn.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, also the National Assembly President, announced on June 30, 2023, that the ongoing projects, totaling N30bn, would be inaugurated by Tinubu in December of the same year.
Despite initial expectations for the renovation’s completion in August 2022, subsequent delays shifted the deadline to January 2023 and finally to December 2023.
As of January 2024, the National Assembly Complex’s renovation remains unfinished, with limited progress visible on-site.
During a recent visit by the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, the site engineer, Tajudeen Olanipekun, attributed the delays to fluctuations in the value of the naira to the United States dollar, hindering the importation of necessary materials and equipment.
He also cited the need for additional funds from the FCDA. Meanwhile, the construction firm, Visible Construction Company, expressed frustration, emphasizing that the delayed release of funds is impeding the timely completion of the project.
Despite a disclosure in June by the Head of Public Relations at the Federal Capital Development Agency, Richard Nduul, that N19bn had been paid to the construction company, the renovation remains ongoing.
He said, “I would like to refer you to a recent press briefing by the Executive Secretary, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, just about three weeks ago, where disclosed that so far about N19bn has been expended out of the sum of N30bn being the cost of the contract awarded in 2021 to Messrs Visible Construction Nigeria Limited with a completion date of August 2023.
“This project when completed, will bring the Complex to the status of a world-class parliamentary building that will ensure both the comfort, convenience and functionality of the complex,” Nduul added.
However, when Punch’s correspondent attempted to contact Nduul for an update on the project’s expenditure, he informed him that he was on sick leave.
He requested a callback on Monday to obtain records from the relevant department, stating, “Please call back on Monday so that I can get the records from the concerned department.”
Similarly, our reporter sought to reach out to the site engineer, Olanipekun, for a statement regarding the amount paid but declined to answer calls and even blocked our correspondent, thwarting further attempts at communication.
(PUNCH)