Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led government has completed the upgrading of the Anambra State House of Assembly complex.
Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Pauly Onyeka disclosed this while inspecting the upgrading work on the facility with the ministry’s team of building professionals.
He described conducive atmosphere as an essential requirement for quality lawmaking, saying the project was targeted at strengthening legislative arm of government to make good and people-oriented laws in the interest of the citizenry.
He said, “On behalf of the Governor, I symbolically announced that the upgrade work has been successfully completed for effective use.
“A good and conducive working edifice like this will enable the house members turn out wonderful laws. In their offices, their thinking faculties will be at the greatest level of alertness.
“They will work very effectively and efficiently. They won’t have any environmental hindrance. Remember that popular saying by the Chinese, “good thinking, good products”. That’s the essence of this intervention”.
Onyeka recalled years of infrastructural dilapidation which also affected the morale and productivity of the legislators as well as the legislative staff.
“As an all-round solution provider, Mr Governor felt that our legislative house should not look the way it was. So, he gave my ministry the task to upgrade it. Today, we have turned very dilapidated structures to edifices.
“Every house member around has testified to the quality of the work done by the contractor. We thank God and our dear working governor for deciding to do this at this point in time.
“This project (structural upgrade) is hundred percent completed as the clerk and the contractor testified. But, phase two will soon commence this year by the grace of God. Phase two has to do with the externals such as landscaping, grassing, fencing, among others.
“By the time we finish with the phase two, everyone will know that Mr Governor never jokes with his campaign promises,” he added.
While lauding leadership quality of the Speaker, Hon. Somto Udeze, which he said, was assisting to turn things around positively, the Commissioner said the Speaker had performed marvelously well as the head of the legislative arm.
“I was once here but for the first time, I see a house sitting every time by 11am on dot, not a matter of house sitting by 1pm, 2pm or sometimes they don’t even know the time that the house will sit.
“It is very unfortunate that all those things were happening those days. But, we have the right peg in the right hole and things have changed for good,” Onyeka noted.
The Acting Clerk of the House of Assembly, Mr Okechukwu Nwobi, who represented the Speaker agreed with the commissioner that the upgrade which had been successfully carried out would enhance productivity of both the lawmakers and staff of the legislature.
“We thank his Excellency, the solution governor, Professor Charles Soludo for the great works he has been doing and will continue to do across the state.
“You can see that this place has been turned to another important edifice and this will translate to greater efficiency. This is now a state monument,” he concluded.
The Managing Director of the contracting firm, Hemebs Construction and Maintenance Nigeria Limited, Mr Henry Onyeibo appreciated state government for finding his company worthy for the contract.
“I have been doing works in Anambra State for quite some time now. But, I thank his Excellency, Mr Governor for giving me the opportunity to handle this project. I feel happy that the job is adjudged to be of high quality.
“His Excellency is doing very well in Anambra and we are happy. I encourage him to continue doing what he is doing for our people,” Onyeibo concluded.
Four members of the House of Assembly, who came around during the inspection, Noble Igwe of Ogbaru1, Obinna Nwafor of Orumba South, Anayo Okpalaeke of Aguata 1 as well as Muobike Ifedili of Aguata 2 were full of praises to Mr Governor, the Housing commissioner and the contractor for job well executed.
