BY Francis Ekeh
ABUJA

The Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has frowned at the level of abuse of public buildings in the nation’s capital and called for reforms in the existing procurement systems for the maintenance of public facilities, even as he suggested establishment of a cadre of civil servants for the maintenance of the public buildings.
According to a press release from the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Anthony Ogunleye Wednesday, the Minister made the call on Tuesday when the FCTA began to renovate the Phase 1 of the Federal Capital Territory Secretariat Complex ((FCTSC) in the FCT.

While flagging off the rehabilitation project, the Minister described the exercise as a milestone in the efforts by the FCTA to rehabilitate public buildings and infrastructures in the FCT. Malam Bello however noted that the Complex was constructed 30 years ago and required rehabilitation, just as he added that the exercise was the culmination of several discussions with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), who according to him, was very passionate about the provision of conducive working environment for civil servants.

On its funding, the Minister admitted that budgetary provisions were constraint, and called for concerted efforts to ensure adequate funding. He therefore said that the phase of what they were doing was just a tip of the iceberg in what should be done. Calling for collaboration to get funding to rehabilitate the buildings and others in Abuja, Bello however disclosed that the current FCTA has spent most of its time completing ongoing projects and is now trying to rehabilitate the roads that were built 30 years ago. He then noted that failure to do the renovation would make it difficult to derive utility out of the existing projects.

Earlier in her remarks, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr (Mrs.) Folashade Esan, commended the FCTA for working to ensure that the environment where civil servants spend most of their time is conducive with the added benefits of increased productivity. Expressing delight that the phase of rehabilitation project is dealing with critical wet areas like conveniences, the HOCSF) called on the construction company, Julius Berger (Nig) Plc to ensure that it is completed in good time.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad explained that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), after due process, graciously approved the award of the Phase 1 of the contract to Messrs. Julius Berger Plc at the sum of N8,110,665,676.79 with completion period of 24 months.  

Engr. Ahmad further disclosed that the contractor has mobilized fully to site and commenced work, while government has met up with its financial obligation to the contractor as at date. He added that the rehabilitation work would be carried out in phases to ensure that government activities are not paralyzed as work goes on.  

Explaining the scope of work of the project, the Director, Public Buildings in the FCTA, Arc Adebowale Ademo, disclosed that the phase 1 involves the rehabilitation of the wet areas, conveniences in all the floors, construction of new lifts, painting, and repairs of pervasive leaking roofs across the building among others.

The  Project Manager, Julius Berger Plc, Mr. Oliver Berger who commended the Federal Government for committing to the maintenance of public infrastructure, assured that the company will, in conjunction with the users of the building, ensure that all works are carried out successfully while still providing comfort to the civil servants at work.
Other officials present at the flag-off ceremony include the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Borno, and senior officials of the FCTA and Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the