The National Assembly might consider additional funds and a variation of the N30bn project sum for the rehabilitation of the federal parliament complex under construction, to enable the contractors to complete the job on schedule.

Members of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, while inspecting the project on Saturday, expressed dismay over the slow pace of work on the complex rehabilitation and vowed to do everything possible to make the contractors meet their target.

The panel, chaired by Senator Smart Adeyemi, had during the inspection of the facilities told the management staff of Visible Concept, the construction firm, handling the N30bn renovation work to speed up the job, which it considered too slow.

The Federal Capital Development Authority had in March this year following the serious dilapidation of the National Assembly Complex, awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of critical segments like the Senate and the House of Representatives chambers.

The contracts also covered the rehabilitation of the Dome in the White House as well as the construction of offices of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and Library.

The projects were to be delivered in phases between January and August 2023.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Bello, in June this year during the first on-the-spot assessment visit made by the Senate Committee on FCT, disclosed that the contractors, Messrs Visible Concept, had collected N9bn mobilisation fee.

However, the site Engineer of Visible Concept, Tajudeen Olanipekun, during the second on-site visit by the Senate panel on Saturday, demanded more mobilisation funds.

He spoke in the presence of the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Hadi Ahmad.

The Chairman of the Senate panel expressed serious worry at the slow pace of work.

Adeyemi, who said that the renovation works being carried out at both chambers were commendable, noted with concern that the job might not be completed on the schedule based on its slow pace.

He told the contractor that except for a miracle, the January 2023 deadline for delivery of transformed Hallowed Chambers, was no longer feasible.

He said, “This project must not be abandoned in any way. The Hallowed Chambers are expected to be completed and delivered by the end of January 2023.

“It will be a threat to democracy if this National Assembly Project is not completed on schedule.

“If it is the money that would delay you from completing the project let us know we can arrange for more funds. If you don’t finish this job as scheduled, we will ask Police to arrest you. This is because your action is an attempt by you to derail democracy. You seem to be playing games.

“The level of work seen here today is not pointing at that which to us, is a threat to our legislative duties and functions.

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“The non-completion of this project at designated times is even a threat to democracy itself because we don’t want the incoming government to inherit it as an abandoned one.

“So, this committee wants to know challenges confronting the contractors as regards expeditious execution of the projects,” he asked.

An investigation by our correspondent revealed that members of the committee had resolved to demand a review of the contract sum based on the current foreign exchange regime which does not favour the naira.

They were said to express concern that the current pace of work would not make it possible for members of the Ninth National Assembly to be the first beneficiaries of the facilities being provided expect something urgent was done to make funds available for the contractors to finish the project on time.

In his response, the site engineer said fluctuations in the value of naira to the US dollar have been problematic for them in the importation of required materials and equipment coupled with the need for more mobilisation funds from FCDA.

He said, “We placed orders for the procurement of most of the items at the beginning of the project but payment was not done at once. It has to be staggered. The problem is money.”

Uncomfortable with the response, Adeyemi told the Executive Secretary of FCDA to get in touch with the Minister for more funds for the contractors.

He said, “The Executive Secretary of FCDA and Chief of Staff to the Minister, you have heard the contractor. Please give them more money for this project because we don’t want to hand over the problem to the incoming government.

“Even if it is bound to be taken from a bank, let it be done for timely completion of the project, please. For us in the National Assembly, we want well-transformed Hallowed Chambers to be handed over latest by April 2023.

“This is a project that cannot be abandoned. This project must be completed between now and April next year. We have to raise enough funds for the completion of both the first and second phases of the project.”