Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof Abubakar Sulaiman, has said President Muhammadu Buhari will within the next 30 days inaugurate the N50bn permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja.

Consequently, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had asked the contractors handling the project, Messrs Julius Berger Plc, to deliver it for inauguration before May 29.

Gbajabiamila gave the marching order during the inspection tour of the complex on Thursday in company with the NILDS officials and 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 the 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.

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“The client (NILDS) said to your hearing here that 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.

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 an expeditious solution.

One of the project consultants, Architect Zingart Gonwalk said fluctuations in exchange rate within the last three years resulted in an outstanding balance of N7.5bn to be paid to Julius Berger.

The Director-General of NILDS told officials of Julius Berger in the presence of the Speaker, that the Institute was not owing the construction firm even as N2.5bn is provided for in the 2023 budget for the completion of the project.