An earlier decision that was taken to do a restrictive tendering for the remaining works on the magnificent State Tower Block, popularly known as Job 600 has been cancelled, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho announced at the emergency Parliamentary sitting last Thursday.
According to the Speaker, the Parliamentary Service Board, of which he is the Chair, after broad consultations and deliberations, has instead opted for an open or competitive tendering which was going through the various process the law requires.
He said the decision was taken in the best interest of the tax payer, bearing in mind, the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (PPA).
“Hon. Members, I believe in competitive tendering. We have to go in for sole sourcing when and only when it is absolutely necessary and can be defended”, he noted.
However, it is unclear when the project would be awarded to a contractor, as the open or competitive tendering, according to the Speaker, was at the technical evaluation stage.
Nonetheless, Rt. Hon. Doe Adjaho told his subjects that as soon as the report on the evaluation process was ready, he would convey an emergency meeting to consider it and award the contract.
The announcement by the Speaker keeps the dream of the project alive, but uncertainty still remains as to when it would finally be completed after postponing it on numerous occasions.
The building and furnishing of the magnificent state edifice, according to inside sources, have been completed, remaining the interior fittings, which includes electronic and ICT component, which contract was awarded separately.
In April 2014, the Speaker announced that funds for the interior fittings of the office complex had been approved by the Executive and expects of the project to be finally completed for Members to move in by August 2014.
But six months down the line, that projection has not materialized, to the dismay of Members who have over the years complained about the lack of office accommodation for their parliamentary activities.
The US$63 million post-independence structure when completed, apart from providing office accommodation for the MPs, would also provide modern offices for research assistants for the legislators.
