‘Buhari ‘ll Inaugurate the N50bn Legislative Institute Next Month’

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Director General of the National Institute For Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has said President Muhammadu Buhari will within the next 30 days, inaugurate  the N50 billion permanent site of the  NILDS situated  along the Airport road in Abuja.

The DG’s assurance came just as the National Assembly, through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila,  is asking the contractors handling the project, Messrs Julius Berger Plc, to deliver it for inauguration  before May 29.

Gbajabiamila during the inspection tour of the complex yesterday  in company with the NILDS officials, quizzed the project consultants on why workers were not on site since the needed fund has been provided.

He 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 inauguration 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 .

One of the project consultants , Architect Zingart Gonwalk said fluctuations  in exchange rate within the last three years,  resulted in outstanding balance of N7.5 billion to be paid to Julius Berger.

The Director General of NILDS , told officials of Julius Berger in the presence of the Speaker, that the Institute was not owing the construction firm even as N2.5 billion  is provided for in the 2023 budget for completion of the project .

He said: “This project has come a long way and should be  delivered for the required 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