From Fred Itua, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari is to commission the over N50 billion permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) located on the Airport Road in Abuja in May.
This is as the National Assembly leadership has given Julius Berger Construction Company marching order to get it completed within 30 days .
Reeling out the order during on the spot assessment of level of execution of the project, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said Julius Berger must complete the project within the stated period.
He 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 commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The client (NILDS) said it to your hearing here that is not indebted to you. So, why the delay? Use the 30 days window given to you now to get the project completed.”
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, 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.
Director General of NILDS, Abubakar Sulaiman, told officials of Julius Berger in the presence of the speaker that the institute is not owing the construction firm even as N2.5 billion is provided for in the 2023 budget for completion of the project.