The completion deadline set by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for the renovation of the chamber has sparked a controversy with the project contractor expressing reservations about meeting the December 31st target.
Tajudeen Olanipekun, the Project Manager, dismissed the December 31 deadline during an unscheduled visit by the Speaker and his Deputy, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, to the project site on November 14.
When asked if funding was the cause of the delay, Mr Olanipekun firmly denied it, stating that the contract has been adequately funded.
The renovation, which commenced in April 2022, has stretched over a year with no clear indications of nearing completion.
Speaker Abbas set the December 31, 2023, deadline to ensure the lawmakers could commence the 2024 legislative work in the newly-renovated chamber.
Notably, the project is under the purview of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) and not the National Assembly management.
Mr Olanipekun regarded the lawmakers as end-users and emphasized that the deadline was not absolute, asserting, “we are dealing with end-users and not the client, whatever we do we report to the client. We cannot stop the end users from coming to see their property.”
The Speaker’s impromptu inspection aimed to enforce the December 31 deadline and ensure the commencement of House seating in the new chamber post the end-of-year recess.
Prior to the renovation, the national assembly complex suffered from perennial flooding due to heavy rainfall, necessitating the refurbishment. The initial budget of over N30 billion allocated in 2019 for the renovation attracted significant criticism, leading to a downward review to N9 billion.
Amos Daniel, Chairman of the House Services Committee, reassured diligent contractor supervision to ensure the project’s timely delivery in accordance with specifications.
