N37bn NASS renovation bill: Final straw of APC’s corruption – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday described the over-bloated N37bn claimed to be for the renovation of the National Assembly complex as an unpardonable rip-off plot. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiya, in a statement also said it is the last straw of the brazen corruption that allegedly pervades the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress administration. According to him, it is indefensible for the Buhari Presidency to propose a whooping N37bn for renovation work on the NASS complex, which, he said was, built at the cost of N7bn. He said, "Our party insists that the over 500 per cent padding of the original construction cost is completely insupportable even with the prevailing costs and exchange rate regime, a development that has already spurred public outcry and apprehensions of plots to divert the fund for political interests of certain APC leaders. "The over-bloated renovation figure is therefore not only sacrilegious but also further confirms that the APC-led administration is overtly corrupt and only out to steal, drain and divert our national resources for selfish purposes of certain individuals in the present administration." The PDP spokesman said such corruption was unacceptable in a nation confronted by an alarming economic downturn, extreme poverty, hunger, decayed infrastructure and security challenges. According to him, the N37bn is embedded in the budget of the Federal Capital Development Authority as approved by Buhari, which, he said, leaves the burden of explanation on Buhari's doorsteps. He charged Buhari to demonstrate the integrity of his approval by immediately publishing a detailed breakdown of the renovation project in line with his recent directives to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. He also challenged Buhari to immediately publish the details of the individual renovation lines, amount and reason for each payment as well as the contractors, beneficiaries and payment patterns for Nigerians to see, if indeed the money has not been detailed for diversion.

He charged the National Assembly to stand on the side of the people by using its statutory legislative instruments to thoroughly scrutinize the FCDA budget and eliminate all embedded padding designed to fleece the nation.