The Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday ordered Julius Berger Construction company to complete the Permanent Site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) within 30 days.
Indeed, he quizzed the project consultants on why workers were not on site since the needed fund has been provided.
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected within the next 30 days, commission the over N50billion Permanent Site of NILDS situated along the Airport road in Abuja.
Gbajabiamila spoke on Thursday during on the spot assessment of level of execution of the project, the Speaker emphasised that Julius Berger must project complete the job within the stated period .
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% 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 .
Gbajabiamila 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 .
Meanwhile 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 .
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 .
