By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The sum of N6.1 billion is to be spent by the Bauchi state government for the upgrading and remodelling of the Government House in the state.
The Environment and Housing Commissioner, Hamisu Shira, disclosed this at a media briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council Meeting presided over by the Governor, Bala Mohammed on Tuesday.
He said this was part of the three memos he presented at the SEC which he stressed are mere proposals until they are passed by the State House of Assembly before it becomes a working document.
He said that the first memo he presented was for the ungrade and remodelling of the present Bauchi State Government House.
“This Government House is the oldest Government House among the 36 states we have in the country.
“If you go to places like Gombe, Adamawa or even Kaduna, you will know that our Government House is very porous that you have entered fro almost all corners. You access the Government House from the first main gate to the other side gate, to the back, the mosque and so on.
“We strongly feel it is not befitting to our Executive Governor especially that he is performing very well, he’s up and doing, constructing roads, touching lives in all the three zones of the state, and he should not be left out, he should also be part of those who will at least, enjoy the good work he is doing.
“So we came up with a proposal for the upgrade of the Goverment House which of course, is going to benefit even members of the media. This is the best and the only Banquet Hall we have apart from the Executive Council Chamber,” he stated.
He added that: “In other Government Houses, you have two or three different types of Committee rooms, Executive Chambers , Mini Chambers where different occasions take place. Why not Bauchi? It is a very historic state which was created in 1976.
“And because if the military intervention, nothing much was done to the seat of power. So, we felt, it was time for us to look at it and give our governor, a befitting residence, a befitting office for him to work and to have it good.
“So, we propose the sum of N6,117,000,000 for this upgrade and remodelling.”
The Commissioner said that the second memo was that of poor condition of Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro in Abuja, which he lamented is completely in a dilapidated condition and only houses the security men and the drivers.
He said: “Those who gave visited that institution in Abuja will agree with me that there is not a place for a Commissioner to stay not to talk of a Governor. And if you look at the street housing our Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, ours is the worst and most dilapidated. The paint is falling off, the roof is blown off, it’s not befitting to our status as one of the oldest states in the northeast.
“So, we came up with a proposal that it should also be remodeled and upgraded to accommodate the residence of the Deputy Governor whenever he is in Abuja on an official activity, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Chief Judge, by extension, even the Commissioners and the Secretary to the government of the state and the members of the Media.
“All these provisions were made and at a very little amount of money, not more than N300 plus million taking into consideration the recession.”
Shira pointed out that the government has thought of ways to free resources to ensure that these projects are done without the government feeling the pinch.
“There is also a provision for the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. We have a place called the Governor’s Lodge behind the ECOWAS Secretariat. Without pride, even my house in Abuja is better that than place that is supposed to house our Executive Governor.
“So it is our decision that it should be pulled down and a complete new house be build to house the governor whenever he is in Abuja,” he stated.
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