Connect with us

FEATURED

Controversial NASS Renovation: Procurement Process Begins As FG Releases N9.25bn Instead Of N27bn

Published

on





The procurement process for the controversial renovation of the National Assembly Complex has began as the Federal Government released the sum of N9.25 billion for the much-publicised renovation.

The FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, disclosed this on Thursday as he appeared before the senate committee on the 2021 National Appropriation Bill to defend his 2021 budget estimates.

According to him, the sum released, however, is embedded in the 2020 budget of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Advertisement

In their submissions, a cross-section of members of the Senate Committee on the FCT, urged the Minister to make good use of the appropriation for the country’s capital city.

Meanwhile, N45.527billion is the sum appropriated for the FCT National Priority capital budget for the 2021 fiscal year.

BIGPEN reports that the disclosure has cleared speculations making the round that N27 billion was the sum approved for the National Assembly renovation.

Advertisement

The renovation of the national assembly complex reportedly for initial N37 billion naira had elicited wide reactions from Nigerians.

ALSO READ: REVEALED: Each Senator Gets N13.5m Every Month — Aside Salaries

Recalls the President of the Senate, Admad Lawan had said that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sum for the renovation of National Assembly after the leadership of the National Assembly met with him and complained about the state of the legislative complex.

Advertisement

Multiple reports say the development had triggered controversy among Nigerians who wonder why the legislative arm will require N37 billion for renovation.

Some civil society groups and group of Nigerians have filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court, Abuja to “restrain and stop President Muhammadu Buhari and Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning from releasing N37 billion allocated for the renovation of the National Assembly complex to the Federal Capital Development Agency and the National Assembly until an impact assessment of the spending is carried out”, according to one report in PREMUIM TIMES.

But a statement on the website of the Budget Office, budgetoffice.gov.ng and signed by the Director General, Ben Akabueze, had explained that it only approved N9.3bn from the initial N37bn budget for the renovation of the National Assembly complex.

Advertisement

“The provision for renovation/retrofitting of the National Assembly (NASS) Complex in the revised budget is N9.25bn, not N27bn as being bandied around. The initial provision of N37bn in the 2020 Appropriation Act for this was cut by 75% due to the impact of Covid-19 on government revenues,” Akabueze had explained.

 

Advertisement
flood
COMMUNITY REPORT2 hours ago

Delta Seeks Collective Action As Flood Washes Vehicles, Motorcycles Away In Agbor

FEATURED2 hours ago

Wike Speaks On Rivers’ HoS Public Confession Against Fubara, Says His Death Rumours Diversionary

BUSINESS15 hours ago

NNPCL: Omo-Agege Congratulates S’South Non-executive Director, Austin Avuru, Tasks New Board On Oil Sector Reform

NPDC-Crude-Oil
FEATURED16 hours ago

FULL LIST: Senate To Hold Public Hearing On Crude Oil Theft As Sen. Nwoko’s Ad-hoc C’ttee Releases Date, List Of Invited Stakeholders

FEATURED17 hours ago

Obi vs Tinubu: APC Fires Back At Peter Obi Over Criticism Of Tinubu’s Economic Policies

FEATURED18 hours ago

Tompolo’s Tantita Hails New NNPCL GCEO, Bayo Ojulari, Management Board On Appointment

FEATURED2 days ago

Edo: Tribunal Throws Out AA’s Petition Against Gov Okpebhole’s Election

Helicopter crash
FEATURED2 days ago

BREAKING: Major Shake-up In NNPCL As Tinubu Fires Mele Kyari As CEO, Akinyelure, Names Replacements

social media
FEATURED2 days ago

Nwoko’s Game-Changing Move: How One Defection Is Redefining Delta Politics

FEATURED2 days ago

Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers, Gun Runners In Delta

FEATURED2 days ago

Contract Breach: Six Commissioners Go Into Hiding As Ebonyi Gov Orders Their Arrest

Missing Genitals
FEATURED2 days ago

Mortuary Attendants Arrested Over Dead Man’s Missing Genitals

BUSINESS4 days ago

Key Takeaways From Sen. Nwoko’s X Space Engagement On Big Tech Accountability Bill

Akwa-Ibom
FEATURED4 days ago

How Akwa Ibom Sacked Commissioner Died After Vomiting Blood

Fubara
FEATURED4 days ago

I’ve Printed Evidence Of How I Was Offered N5bn As Bribe To Coordinate Impeachment Of Fubara – CoS

Advertisement
Advertisement