FG to shut National Assembly for one year

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a contract of N40.2bn  for the construction of the Phase III, Part III of the National Assembly complex and the upgrading of the Assembly’s two chambers.
To pave the way for the smooth implementation of the project, the two chambers would be closed to legislative duties for 12 months. The approval was given at the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo. President Goodluck Jonathan was away in South Africa where he participated in the funeral rites for the country’s former President, Dr. Nelson Mandela.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed, briefed State House correspondents of the meeting’s outcome.
According to Muhammed, the project, which is awarded to construction giant, Julius Berger, include the construction of library, budget office, printing press, clinic, restaurants, banquet hall, places of worship, plenary hall (auditorium), TV/radio/press facilities, fitness room, administrative offices, technical rooms, meeting rooms and the upgrading of the two chambers.

He said the contract, which will be carried put in 40 months, is under the National Priority Programme of the FG and based on national plan. Muhammed said for the period that the two chambers of the National Assembly would remain closed, an arrangement had been made for large conference rooms where lawmakers could carry out their legislative duties.