The lifts at Youyi Building which houses most of the government ministries is currently in shambles with workers and other visitors find it very arduous to access most of the offices to conduct businesses. In the past months, the issue has gained public interest, but despite that it seems that no effort has been made to remedy the situation. However, on the side of the story, this medium has some findings that the rehabilitation of those lifts has been budgeted.
We are very concerned why it is still not fixed? During the 2024 Financial Year, Minister SHEKU AHMED FANTAMADI BANGURA vividly reads:
Government Buildings… Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Government is also allocating NLe168.5 million from the domestic capital budget to the Ministry of Works and Public Assets for the rehabilitation of existing presidential lodges, the State House, provincial and district administrative buildings and the lifts at the Youyi Building. The amount also covers the construction of the administrative buildings of the Judiciary and the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security. From the recurrent budget, the sum of NLe47.9 million is allocated to the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, of which, NLe36.2 million is to the Public Assets Division for the payment of rents and rates. The wage bill of the Ministry of Works and Public Assets will amount to NLe6.4 million.
In line with that, we at FORUM NEWSPAPER hereby urge the Minister of Works to immediately fix this mess.