House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has given construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, 30 days to complete the permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
The site, which is situated on Airport Road in Abuja, is said to be worth over N50 billion.
Gbajabiamila gave the order while assessing the level of work done so far on the project.
The Speaker said the marching order had become necessary to enable President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the edifice before leaving office on May 29.
He quizzed the project consultants on why workers were not on site since the needed fund had been provided.
Gbajabiamila said: “I was here in September 2019 and came here again about a year ago when the project was said to be at 95 per cent completion stage. But I was disappointed to be here today and see the project at the same level and without workers on site.
“Take it or leave it: this project must be completed within the next 30 days for commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The client (NILDS) said it to your hearing here that it is not indebted to you. So, why the delay? Please, use the 30 days window given to you now to get the project completed.”
The Speaker also directed the construction firm to table its financial difficulties on the project to the Governing Council of NILDS in the first week of May for consideration.
But one of the project consultants, Zingart Gonwalk, said fluctuations in the exchange rate in the last three years resulted in outstanding balance of N7.5 billion to be paid to the construction firm.
The NILDS Director General, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, told officials of Julius
Berger in the presence of the Speaker that the institute was not indebted to the construction firm.
The director general said N2.5 billion had been appropriated in the 2023 budget for completion of the project.
“This project has come a long way and should be delivered for usage within the stated period by the Speaker.
“The most important thing to be done between now and then is for all the offices and lecture rooms to be furnished preparatory to the inauguration,” he said.
The ultra-modern building, when fully completed, will enable the institute to carry out its mandate of building capacity among legislators at the national and regional levels as well as foster collaboration among other organisations and international institutions.
It will also provide an environment conducive for teaching and learning for students and lecturers of the institute.