The Benue State House of Assembly has summoned the contractor handling the renovation and remodeling of the Assembly Complex, Gerewa Construction Nigeria Limited, to appear before the House on August 12th, 2025, to explain why the company has not completed the project. The House made this resolution on Tuesday when a member representing Tiev State Constituency, Hon. Matthew Damkor, moved a motion of urgency calling on the contractor to appear before the House and explain why the project is yet to be completed.
Earlier, the mover of the motion, Hon. Damkor, called on the House to note that Gerewa Nigeria Company Limited was awarded the contract worth Four Billion, Five Hundred and Seventy-Nine Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-One Naira, Forty-Three Kobo (N4,579,276,451.43) to renovate the Benue State House of Assembly Complex. Hon. Damkor further noted the contract, awarded in 2023, is one of the first contracts of the current Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia administration. He explained that over fifty percent (50%) of the contract funds were released to the contractor over a month ago, and it is yet to complete work on the renovation.
Hon. Damkor expressed worry that more than two years into Rev. Fr. Alia’s administration, the contractor has not completed work on the renovation, thereby putting the legislators under very uncomfortable circumstances in carrying out their legislative duties and responsibilities. He further expressed worry that the image of the Assembly has been consistently ridiculed due to the sitting conditions of the legislators when plenary is transmitted live for public viewing.
Seconding the motion, Minority Leader, Hon. Michael Audu said fifty-five percent (55%) of the contract sum has been released to the contractor; the contractor should do everything possible to complete the project. Supporting the motion, Member Representing Ukum State Constituency, Hon. Ezra Nyiyongo, urged the House to also summon the supervising ministry to appear before the House.
On his part, Member Representing Tarka State Constituency, Hon. Manger Manger, urged the House to be very serious about the matter while he called on the House to summon the contractor, consultant, and the supervising ministry to appear before the House.
Contributing, Member Representing Makurdi North State Constituency, Hon. Alfred Emberga, notified the House of the need for the contractor to bring the contract specifications while he expressed worries that, at the moment, most of the things the contractor used, such as tiles, are already being removed when the project is not handled properly by the House.
