CBN’s N9.5bn ASCON intervention project gets lawmakers’ nod
Ajose Sehindemi is Businessamlive Reporter.
You can contact him on ajose.sehindemi@businessamlive.com with stories and commentary.
The House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on its ongoing intervention project at Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry.
The project, which is costing N9.5 billion is one of the several intervention projects across different sectors of the economy being undertaking by the CBN to raise capacity and has been adjudged strategic to the nation’s economic development.
The project sites visited by the lawmakers include a three-storey hostel building, which houses 85 rooms, an adjourning 500-seater auditorium and 12 flats for staff at ASCON’s site, all in Badagry.
Jones Onyereri, chairman of the committee said they are impressed with the current level of the project compared with what they met on ground during their first visit to the site.
“The committee was highly impressed by the outcome of the work being done at the project site. What we saw surpassed our expectation. We didn’t think that we would get this kind of outcome judging from our first impression. By looking at the project as it is, I think it’s so far so good,” he said.
The apex bank has created a conducive learning environment for participants in the institution with this initiative, which he said was lacking before the CBN’s intervention.
He said: “There is no doubt that the 3-bedroom flat for the staff, hostel accommodation and restaurant for the participants and a very good auditorium will create room for the learning process.”
He commended CBN for making use of local contractors for its various projects, saying that such act shows that Nigeria is beginning to patronise local contractors.
The committee would have to look at all records pertaining to the project to know the actual use of all money allocated for it and how the money is being expended on the project, he noted.
“But having said that, we still have to look at the whole book to make sure that we see the proper use of the money expended because that is really our work as legislatures – to find out that we make proper or best use of whatever kobo put in the project,” he added.