The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday, gave a construction firm, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, 30 days to complete the Permanent Site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
Gbajabiamila gave the order during his on-the-spot assessment of level of work done so far on the project.
The complex which is situated along the Airport road in Abuja is said to be worth over N50billion.
The Speaker said the marching order had become necessary to enable President Muhammadu Buhari to commission the edifice before May 29, 2023 handover date.
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 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,” he said.
He also directed the construction firm to table their 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, Architect Zingart Gonwalk, said fluctuations in exchange rate within the last three years resulted in outstanding balance of N7.5billion to be paid to Julius Berger.
The Director General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman told officials of Julius
Berger in the presence of the Speaker, that the Institute is not owing the construction firm even as N2.5billion has 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 commissioning,” he said.
The ultra-modern infrastructure when fully completed, will enable the Institute carry out its mandate of building capacity among legislators at the national and regional levels and foster collaboration with other organisations and international institutions.
It will also provide a conducive environment for for teaching and learning for students and lecturers of the Institute respectively.