Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad of Bauchi state has flagged off the upgrading and remodelling of the State House of Assembly Complex at the cost of N7.8 billion.
While inaugurating the project at the Assembly premises, Muhammad said the initiative was aimed at providing a more conducive environment for legislative activities in line with his administration’s urban renewal policy.
The Governor lauded the cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of government, stressing that the synergy had contributed to the successful execution of people-oriented projects across the state.
He emphasised that the project was not merely infrastructural but a symbolic representation of equal respect and strategic investment in the legislative arm of government.
He explained that for nearly 20 years, the complex had not seen any meaningful renovation, noting that it is the very heart of the state’s legislative process. He added that the project is a case of equal and just treatment for all three arms of government.
He assured that it is the will of his administration to provide a conducive environment for the lawmakers to carry out their constitutional responsibilities effectively.
He also revealed that alternative office accommodation had been arranged to ensure uninterrupted legislative functions during the remodelling process.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Abubakar Y. Sulaiman, described the project as timely and long overdue, noting that the Assembly complex had not undergone any major renovation since its construction nearly two decades ago.
Abubakar Y. Sulaiman expressed heartfelt appreciation, on behalf of Members of the Assembly, to the Governor, describing the renovation as a renewal of both physical structure and democratic commitment.
He also commended the collaborative spirit between the Executive and Legislative arms, which he said had made legislative service more impactful and productive.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Rt Hon Danlami Ahmad Kawule, said the ministry is to supervise the project, commended the Governor for extending his administration’s development strides to the Legislature.
The Commissioner gave a detailed breakdown of the work, which includes remodelling of the main legislative chamber, renovation of administrative and committee buildings, construction of a new Assembly Service Commission building, and a solar-powered energy supply with a 100 KVA backup system.
Other components include the upgrading of internal roads, drainages, water supply, and perimeter fencing. He pledged strict monitoring to ensure timely and quality delivery and applauded the Governor’s leadership and attention to detail.
Chairman of the State Assembly Service Commission, Alhaji Bappa Haruna Disina, expressed happiness over the project, saying that it is coming at the right time.
In his goodwill message, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, hailed the Governor’s vision and urged the lawmakers to see the upgraded complex as a call to “even greater service.”
He commended the all-inclusive style of the present administration in the state, emphasising that democracy must not only be practised but dignified.
Speaking on behalf of the contracting firm, Architect Ruben Okoye assured that the project would be delivered within twelve months and in full compliance with the specifications.
The scope of the project includes the construction of a new Assembly Service Commission building, renovation of the main legislative chamber, refurbishment of the dilapidated administrative block, and renovation of the committee buildings, among other components.
The State Assembly Complex, which was first built in the 1980s during the tenure of the late Governor of defunct Bauchi State, Abubakar Tatari Ali, will now undergo comprehensive transformation over the next twelve months, under the supervision of Architronics Nigeria Ltd, selected through a competitive bidding process.
As construction gets underway, all eyes will be on the delivery timeline, the quality of work, and how the upgraded complex will shape legislative operations going forward in Bauchi State.
To ensure that legislative activities continue uninterrupted during the reconstruction period, the Governor revealed that temporary offices had been provided at the former Deputy Governor’s office.
