Nigerian Lawmakers have demonstrated satisfaction over the intervention projects worth N9.5 billion at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The project is one of the several intervention projects across sectors of the economy undertaken by the Apex bank.
The House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, which visited the site as part of its oversight function, adjudged the project as strategic the country’s economic growth.
Part of the project sites visited by the lawmakers include three blocks of two and three-storey hostel buildings and an adjourning 500-seater auditorium at the ASCON, Topo, Badagry, at a total cost of N9.5billion.
Jones Onyerere, chairman of the committee said what they saw surpassed their expectation. “We didn’t think that we would get this kind of outcome judging from our first impression. By looking at the project as it is, I think it’s so far so good”, Onyerere said.
He said the CBN has created a conducive learning environment for participants in the institution which he said was lacking before the CBN’s intervention, adding that the 3bedroom flat for the staff, hostel accommodation and restaurant for the participants and a very good auditorium will create room for learning process.
The committee commended CBN for making use of local contractors, stressing that such act shows that Nigeria is beginning to patronise local contractors but said that it will look at all records pertaining to the project to know the actual use of all money allocated for it and then make its final conclusion.
But having said that, we still have to look at the whole book to make sure that we catch proper use of the money expended because that is really our work as legislatures – to find out that we make proper or best use of whatever kobo put in the project.”
During the course of the tour, Onyerere pointed out some areas in the construction which he urged the bank and the engineers to effect correction on them.
Hope Moses-Ashike
