In fulfilment of one of its core mandate to oversee and maintain all public buildings in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Development Authority, (FCDA), has promised to expedite action in completing the ongoing multi-million Naira renovation work at the National Assembly’s Red and Green chambers.
Part of the ongoing renovation work includes, massive clean-up, expansion work, total overhauling of the internal and external structures, scald folding of the wall with the target to give the structures a new face lift furnished with exclusively designed chairs and world class interior designs.
Conducting the Senate Committee Members on FCT round the projects, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Shehu Hadi said the Administration has fully funded the contractor handling the phase 1 project, while processes for the 2nd phase approval is on top gear.
Hadi explained that the Federal Capital Territory Adminstration, (FCTA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), were in charge of facilitating the payment processes.
Speaking on the scope of the work, the Executive Secretary FCDA said the renovation involves the entire National Assembly including the white house.
He said efforts has been made by the FCT Administration jointly with the technical team of National Assembly to ensure that the daily renovation work and the legislative duties goes 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”.
According to Hadi, 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 purpose of 2023 presidential presentation, we have already strip off all the two Chambers. A temporary chamber has to be prepared for both the Senate and the House of Representatives,” he explained.
The Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Borno corroborated the FCDA Executive Secretary position, saying that the FCT Administration would do everything possible to ensure its speedy completion, without further delay.
Reacting, the Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi emphatically encouraged the FCT Administration to take proactive practical steps to source the required funds for the completion of the National Assembly complex to a building with lasting legacies for the 10th Assembly.
According to Senator Adeyemi, further delay in mobilizing manpower and the required resources for the completion of the complex will be tantamount to threat to legislative duties and democracy.
His words: “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 don’t see it visible, except you have a miracle to perform. Non-completion of this renovation to me is a threat to legislative duties and democracy. Because once national assembly is not in existence, then, there is no democracy,” Adeyemi said.
Admitting that FCT was going through challenges of influx of people, Senator Adeyemi advised FCTA to keep projecting into the future by expanding the infrastructures to meet the ever increasing population.
He commended the Administration for it’s foresight in designing 565 capacity chamber that can accommodate both legislative arm members.
“We are having 109 now. This may not always be the case. More creation of senatorial zones and more Geopolitical zones may emerge in the next 10 to 20 years. Our concern is to leave this place better than we met it.”
The Senate members were also conducted round the Idu rail station, Wupa treatment plant, street solar light installation poles along NJC way through Jabi express way and the 350 Hectares dump site among others.
