President Umaru Musa Yar\'Adua yesterday described the alleged N628 million contract scandal involving the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, as mere allegations, explaining that the Speaker had the right to fair hearing before any conclusion could be drawn.
The President who made this submission during a media chat on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), reiterated his administration\'s zero tolerance for corruption.
According to him, the National Assembly is an independent Arm of Government which reserves the right to carry Out its own independent investigation of the scandal upon the resumption of the House tomorrow.
He said the Presidency neither awarded nor approved the contract because it was the Exclusive preserve of the House to carry Out such an exercise. Therefore, he said, he would not be competent to speak on the scandal until the House investigated the allegation and made its report Public .
He regretted that Nigerians had imbibed the habit of drawing conclusions without giving fair hearing to parties involved in serious matters.
Said the President: \"First of All , speaking about the current controversy surrounding the award of contracts on the renovation, it is an allegation which the House when it resumes on Tuesday will investigate. now , let me make a clarification that the National Assembly is an independent Arm of Government and of course, the Presidency did not give approval for the renovation because it was an independent right of the National Assembly. The contract was originated and executed by the House of representatives following its own rules and regulations.
\"Now, on the issue of the allegation, I believe that every Nigerian who is alleged to have done any wrong has the right to fair hearing. So far, the House of Representatives, I am sure will conduct a hearing on this matter and will investigate the matter and examine the procedure if it was followed; whether due process has been followed. It is after fair hearing has been given to madam speaker that we can reach a conclusion.
\"I think one of the problems we have is that whenever things happen like this, we always rush to make a verdict on the pages of newspapers in the media without waiting to give the party concerned a fair hearing. This is what we have to deal with in this country. This administration has zero tolerance for corruption with absolute respect for rule of Law. Therefore, due process must be followed in whatever we do. We must follow due process.
“On the issue of the award of this contract, I cannot comment on this. I think after the House resumes on Tuesday and after investigating the matter, then the result of the investigation will be made Public ,\" he concluded.
The President also gave reasons why his administration suspended the plannned redenomination of the Naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria , saying the policy would lead to hyper inflation. He said redenomination at this particular time would imply \"carrying Out a surgery on a patient who is not sick.\"
He also reitereated the commitment of his administration to the observance and enforcement of rule of Law, saying beginning from the President, every Authority in the country would be mandated to respect the rule of Law, a situation which he said would compel compliance by every citizen.
“Following the outrage which greeted the renovation contract for the official residences of the Speaker of the House and her deputy, Nguroje, the Management of the National Assembly yesterday moved to clear the Air on the controversy. It confirmed that Out of the N579, 216,417.50 budgeted for the contract, only N52million, representing 25%, had been paid to the contractors Handling the projects.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Nasir Arab who confirmed this yesterday at the National Assembly complex said “the scope of Works at the residences of the presiding officers of the House of Representatives namely, the Honorable Speaker and the Deputy Speaker is not confined to mere renovation but entails a comprehensive upgrade of the affected premises to the Standard that befits their status.\"
Arab, who was represented at the briefing yesterday by the Assembly\'s Director of Information and Publication, Monima Daminabo said, “it must be acknowledged that these residences Are National Assets in their own right, which must be accorded their due precedence and Associated Security consideration. It is in the light of the foregoing therefore that the National Assembly is embarking on the upgrade exercise.”
He disclosed that under the constitution, holders of the offices of the President , Vice President and the Chief Justice of Nigeria as well as the Presiding officers of the National Assembly, namely Senate President , Deputy Senate President, Honorable Speaker and the Deputy Speaker Are to be remunerated as recommended by the Revenue Mobilsation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).
The commission, he said, provides that such officers Are to be availed official accommodation, furnishing and transport by the Government .
The contracts for the jobs, he said, were done in accordance with due process regulations at every stage. “The tender notices for the projects were duly advertised through conspicuous display on the official Notice Boards throughput the National Assembly premises as is the practice. The only disbursement made so far in respect of the contracts is 25 percent mobilization and to only one contractor.”
On the scope of work at the Speaker\'s residence, he said it included (I) House No 1 (main Mansion) main complex of 10 bedrooms and seven sitting rooms, (b) Private Office, Study House No 2, 3 bedroom guest House , House 32, ADC ’s 3 bedroom House , House No 4 bedroom domestic Staff House , House No 5, reception block , House no 6 , Radio room, House No 7, Power House , House No 8 lock up garages.
Also included Are the Construction of New Security House , relocation of the mosque into the compound, Construction of Chapel and furnishing, fittings and communications gadgets, 5 percent VAT on the Total Construction sum and one year maintenance contract of the jobs.
On the residence of the Deputy Speaker Babangida Nguroje, he explained that N90,269,225.25 was budgeted while the furnishing is expected to cost N55,200,000.00.
According to him, “ the residence has never been occupied because it is not habitable. The compound is located adjacent to a stream, and this makes it marshy especially during rainy seasons. It is also close to a Major storm drain which regularly overflows with storm Water that causes substantial damage to the precincts . Moreover, the compound adjoins an uncompleted and abandoned fire station as well as the only recreation facility for Apo Quarters. It therefore demands extensive re-engineering Works to enhance Security , improve the Technical status of the structure and avail the entire premises a facelift.\"
He listed the affected structures as: House No 1 Main mansion comprising 7 bedrooms and 5 sitting rooms, private office and private study; House no 2, ADC ’s apartment House no 3; Security House ; House no 4 Power House and House no 53 bedroom guest House . The job also includes fence upgrade ( due relocation of mansion), 100 KVA generator , Security System , external Works , 5 percent Vat and one year maintenance contract.
The scope of Works being carried Out, he said “ is provided for in the 2007 Appropriation Act. The premises under consideration Are technically bonafide extensions of the official premises of the legislature hence their maintenance, upgrade and renovation remain the responsibibility of the National Assembly.
On the procurement of vehicles, he also confirmed that in the light of the commencement of a New legislature, and the emergence of New principal officers, the need for replacement of old operational utility vehicles as approved by the RMAFC had to be addressed . Accordingly, provision was made for New official utility vehicles for All the principal officers of the House of Representatives at the Total cost of N123 million.
The Speaker, he said, was entitled to one Toyota VX V8 Land cruiser Jeep and two Peugeot 406 salon cars which he said was less than the full complement of eight vehicles approved statutorily for the official convoy of the Speaker. For her deputy, he said the Management will purchase two Mercedes Benz 500, Toyota VxV8 land cruiser jeep, 2 Peugeot 406 and a Toyota hilux pick up.
The other principal officers, namely, Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Whip, (ANPP leader), Minority Whip (AC leader), Deputy Minority Leaders (ANPP)Deputy Minority Whip (ANPP) Are All entitled to one Land cruiser VxV8 Toyota jeeps.
Other items he listed include furnishing and fittings in the cluster of structures at the Speaker\'s residence N71,895,000,00 Upgrade of clusters of structures at Deputy Speaker\'s residence N90,269,255.25;Furnishing and fittings in the cluster of structures at the Deputy Speaker\'s residence N55,200,000.00; Motor vehicles N123,600,000.00