Lawmakers budget N30bn for NASS renovation after allocating N197bn for National Assembly

Nigerian legislators have budgeted an additional N30 billion to renovate the National Assembly Complex in the 2024 Appropriation Bill.

The N30 billion earmarked for the renovation of the building was part of the N344.85 billion budgeted for the National Assembly after they raised their allocations from N197.93 billion.

The N344.85 billion, signed by President Bola Tinubu on January 1, is the highest ever allocated to the legislature.

The additional N30 billion brings to N60 billion the amount being spent on the renovation of the National Assembly complex.

The renovation was initially billed to be completed and delivered in August 2022, but the delivery date was moved to January 2023 and December 2023.

As of January 2024, the renovation of the National Assembly Complex is yet to be completed, with skeletal work ongoing on the premises.

An official of the construction firm, who spoke to Punch anonymously, said, “People keep blaming us for not finishing the project but those with the money have refused to release money to us.

“How are we expected to finish the work without money? If money is released to our company, the project will be done in no time.”

Earlier, during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, the site engineer, Tajudeen Olanipekun, blamed “fluctuations in the value of naira to the United States dollar for the delay.”

“This has hampered the importation of required materials and equipment, in addition to the need for more funds from the FCDA,” he said.

However, the Head of Public Relations at Federal Capital Development Agency, Richard Nduul, in June disclosed that N19bn had been paid to the construction company.