NASS gives Julius Berger marching order to complete N50bn NILDS complex
…as Buhari set to commission complex in May
By Tunde Opalana
Construction giant, Julius Berger, handling the over N50billion permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has been given marching order to complete the complex situated along the Airport road in Abuja within the next 30 days.
This is as President Muhammadu Buhari is expected commission the edifice. The National Assembly which awarded the contract gave the marching order in Abuja on Thursday.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives , Hon Femi Gbajabiamila , said Julius Berger must the project completed within the stated period . He
reeled out the order during on the spot assessment of level of execution of the project.
He confirmed that the contractor has not been fund starved since the beginning of the project.
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% 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 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 however directed the project executors to table their financial difficulties on the project to governing council of NILDS in the first week of May for expeditious solution .
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 is provided for in the 2023 budget for completion of the project .
” This project has come a long way and should be delivered for the required usage within the stated period by the Speaker.
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” 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 Project earlier billed for commissioning in May 2019 , is located in Piwoyi District along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport road on 8.12 hectares (81,200m2) of land, Plot 307 Cadastral zone .
The ultra-modern infrastructure when fully completed and commissioned, 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 most importantly , enable students and lecturers in the Institute , have very conducive environment for teaching and learning.
