Reps Investigate Stalled N365m National Library Project

The House of Representatives' Public Accounts Committee is probing the stalled N365 million National Library project in Jalingo, Taraba State, which has been under contract for nearly nine years. The contract was awarded on March 1, 2018, to Samsung Asosu Nigeria Limited for N238 million, with a completion deadline set for March 2019.

However, the contract value was revised to N365 million in March 2023 due to variations approved by the Federal Ministry of Education. Chinwe Anunobi, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, informed lawmakers that N292.27 million has been paid to the contractor, leaving an outstanding balance of N7.3 million.

Despite this, committee members expressed dissatisfaction, noting that no work has been observed at the project site as of October 2023. The committee has directed the National Library of Nigeria to provide outstanding procurement payment records and has formed a three-member investigative team to physically inspect the project site.