12th December, 2013
Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Nigeria will spend N40.2 billion for the construction of phase III of the National Assembly complex and renovation of the first and second phases of the complex.
This was announced on Wednesday after weekly meeting of Federal Executive Council by Bala Muhammed, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Muhammed.
The Minister who told State House correspondents that the project was under the Federal Government’s National Priority Programme said it would involve the renovation of the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“We are going to close down the two chambers of the National Assembly for a period of 12 months and we are lucky we have already provided large committee rooms that will be used during the period for the parliament to continue its work,” he said.
He said the contract is for N40.2billion and it will take 40 months to complete.
The Minister added that the phase III of the complex would involve the construction of a library, budget office, printing press, clinic, restaurants, banquet hall, places of worship and plenary hall (auditorium).
Also, television/radio/press facilities, fitness room, administrative offices, technical rooms, and meeting rooms would be provided while the two of the chambers of the National Assembly would be renovated.
The Minister of Information,Labaran Maku said FEC also approved N3.6 billion for the purchase of an office building for the Petroleum Equalisation Fund Management Board as well as the establishment of National Petroleum Laboratory in Owerri, Imo State that will serve as a testing outfit for all petroleum products imported to the country.
According to the Minister, the laboratory will have the capacity help to detect products being stolen from Nigeria or those that could pollute the Nigerian soil.
The Information minister added that Maku stated members of the Council also paid tribute to the late former South African President, Nelson Mandela during Wednesday’s meeting.