Reps deny awarding N.5bn contract for speaker’s house renovation

Idowu Samuel, Abuja and Festus Ojudun - 15.04.2008

The House of Representatives has denied rumours that it renovated the official residence of the Speaker, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, with N500 million.

It also denied a story published in one of the national dailies that it engaged in a spending spree, in which the medium reported that it had spent N2.7b to buy cars for lawmakers and N.6billion to purchase guest houses.

Reacting to the newspaper report, spokesperson of the House and Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Eziuche Ubani, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Monday said: “nowhere is money provided for the resumption of the renovation of the residence of the Speaker, which has been subjected to high-wire intrigues since last year.

“Following from this, there is no truth whatsoever in the report, concerning the renovation of the House. These are simple facts that can be cross-checked from the 2008 Budget.”

He added that there was provision for purchase of guest houses for the leadership of the House in the budget, noting that the motive behind that was to reduce the bill incurred from these officers when they lodged in hotels.

“In the consideration of the House, it will be more cost-effective in the long run to purchase guest houses for the officers and staff to stay whenever they are in Lagos,” he said.

On the purchase of cars, he said the House purchased them to enable it perform its oversight functions effectively, adding that the purchase was done “as provided in the 2007 Budget”.

He urged Nigerians to discountenance the newspaper publication, saying there is nothing underhand or hidden about matters in the budget or in the transactions of the House.”