Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has promised to expedite action in completing the ongoing multi-million naira renovation work at the National Assembly.
The executive secretary of FCDA, Engr Shehu Hadi who made this known while conducting members of the senate committee on FCT round the projects, said the administration has fully funded the contractor handling the phase 1 project, while processes for the 2nd phase approval are on top gear.
Part of the ongoing renovation work includes massive clean-up, expansion work, total overhauling of the internal and external structures, and scald folding of the wall with the target to give the structures a new facelift and furnished with exclusively designed chairs and world-class interior designs.
Hadi explained that the renovation involves the entire National Assembly including the White House, saying that FCTA and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were in charge of facilitating the payment processes and that there is no cause for alarm.
He said efforts have been made by the FCT administration jointly with the technical team of the National Assembly to ensure that the daily renovation work and the legislative duties go unhindered.
“Knowing fully well that sessions are going on, we have made efforts on how we can as much as practicable make it seamless without disrupting the daily legislative conduct.
“Plans have been concluded to host the National presidential budget presentation of 2023 which is normally conducted in the green chamber in a temporary chamber.
“For the 2023 presidential presentation, we have already stripped off all the two Chambers. A temporary chamber has to be prepared for both the Senate and the House of Representatives,” he said.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi encouraged the FCT administration to take proactive practical steps to source the required funds for the completion of the National Assembly renovation complex to build lasting legacies for the 10th Assembly.
According to Adeyemi, further delay in mobilizing manpower and the required resources for the completion of the complex will be tantamount to a threat to legislative duties and democracy.
“What matters to us is the January deadline. But more importantly to ensure you meet the deadline for the 10th senate to start on a solid note. But from what I see I do not see it visible, except you have a miracle to perform.
“The non-completion of this renovation to me is a threat to legislative duties and democracy. Because once a National Assembly is not in existence, then, there is no democracy,” he said.
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