The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has inaugurated construction of the permanent office building of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) worth N11.65 billion.
Performing the ceremony at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, Lawan said the foundation laying marked an end to a 20-year delay for the take-off of the structure since establishment of the the commission in 2000.
Lawan said that, “This is an important day for us and for our democracy. We all recall how this arm of government, the legislature, has been do disadvantaged because of its non-existence in the past.”
He said that the management of national assembly would continue to be committed to release funds for the completion of the permanent office of NASC.
Lawan also urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to expedite action on the processes of ensuring that the dilapidating parts of the national assembly were rehabilitated.
Earlier, Chairman of the commission, Mr Ahmed Amshi, described the construction of the NASC permanent office building as a historic feat recorded under the ninth assembly.
According to him, the fifth assembly found it expedient to reengage Triad Associates Ltd. for the execution of the project given their professional competence to ensure continuity.
He added that at the point of conceiving the project in 2010, the construction cost was estimated at N2.5 billion.
Amshi, however, explained that due to inflationary trends and incorporation of modern materials and facilities, the project would cost N11.65 billion to be completed.
