The Benue State House of Assembly has summoned senior officials of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development, alongside the Director-General of the Benue State Public Procurement Commission and Gerewa Construction Company, over the prolonged renovation of the Assembly complex.
The invitation requires the concerned officials and the contractor to appear before the leadership of the House on Monday. The decision followed a motion raised on the floor of the House by Simon Gabo (APC, Mata Constituency).
Moving the motion, Mr Gabo recalled that in July 2023, the Benue State Government awarded the renovation contract of the Assembly complex to Gerewa Construction Company, with the aim of upgrading the facility to a more befitting standard. He noted that the contract sum had been reviewed upward on two occasions due to rising inflation across the country.
The lawmaker, however, expressed serious concern that despite the original contract timeline of three months, the project has dragged on for more than two years without completion. He lamented that members and staff of the Assembly have been compelled to operate in a highly unconducive environment for nearly three years as a result of the delay.
Mr Gabo further raised the issue that the contractor has allegedly denied lawmakers and staff access to the renovated complex, even while claiming that about 90 per cent of the work has been completed. He stressed that the summoned officials and the contractor must account for the failure to complete and hand over the project despite the reported payment of โฆ14 billion to the contractor.
Those summoned include the Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, the Commissioner for Finance, the Director-General of the Benue State Public Procurement Commission, the Director of Civil Engineering in the Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development, and representatives of Gerewa Construction Company.
The motion was seconded by Ezra Nyinongo (APC, Ukum Constituency), who criticised the quality of the renovation work, describing it as substandard and an eyesore.
In their contributions, Blessed Onah (PDP, Oju I) insisted that the engagement should involve the entire House rather than just its leadership, while Samuel Jiji (PDP, Logo Constituency) advised that the date and time of the interface be adjusted to ensure the presence of all relevant officials.
Also contributing, Anthony Agom (APC, Okpokwu Constituency) called for the prosecution of the contractor to ensure accountability for all public funds released for the project.
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker of the House, Alfred Emberga, directed the contractor and invited officials to appear with all relevant documents, including the bill of quantities, original contract sum, first and second variations, and payment certificates.
The Speaker noted that the Governor of Benue State had good intentions for the Assembly, adding that the funds released were substantial enough to construct a new complex, not merely renovate the existing one. He expressed disappointment that lawmakers have been forced to sit in a temporary chamber and use plastic chairs for over two years.
Mr Emberga concluded by directing that the invited parties appear before the House leadership, and announced that Ezra Nyinongo would be co-opted into the interface.
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