• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

ABUJA - The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee on Thursday launched a probe into the alleged abandonment of a N365 million National Library of Nigeria state branch project in Jalingo, Taraba State, despite N292 million already paid to the contractor. The probe followed a petition by civic organisation BudgIT Foundation, which accused the National Library of Nigeria of halting construction of the prototype library building, raising concerns over accountability and the use of public funds. Appearing before the committee chaired by Rep. Bamidele Salam, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library, Professor Chinwe Veronica, said the contract was initially awarded on March 1, 2018, to Samsung and Asosu Nigeria Limited at a sum of N238 million, with a scheduled completion in March 2019. She noted that the contract sum was later revised to N365 million in March 2023 following an approved variation by the Federal Ministry of Education. Prof. Veronica disclosed that a total of N292.267 million has already been paid to the contractor and that the project is about 85 per cent complete, leaving an outstanding balance of roughly N7.3 million. She added that officials had visited the site last year, observed security personnel stationed by the contractor, and communicated with the contractor by phone. However, lawmakers expressed serious concern over the contractor's absence from the site since October 2023 and questioned why the eighth payment certificate, valued at N65.2 million, was processed despite limited supporting documentation. The committee noted that the agency submitted only the original letter of award, with other key procurement documents, including variation requests and approvals, missing. The committee chairman described the agency's response as biased and inadequate, insisting that the project's current status suggested it had effectively been abandoned. Following deliberations, the committee directed the National Library of Nigeria to submit all outstanding procurement and payment documents. It also constituted a three-member investigative team to conduct a physical inspection of the project site in Jalingo. Both the contractor and the agency are expected to reappear before the committee after the inspection for a final determination on the project's completion and next steps. Source: https://independent.ng/reps-probe-n292m-paid-to-abandoned-taraba-library/