Controversy over alleged N14m Persian rug for NASS

There are indications that the National Assembly may have by-passed local industries to order a N14 million Persian rug from Iran.

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Speaker, House of Representative, Hon. Dimeji Bankole

A report on http://english.farsnews.net/newstext on Thursday indicates that the “precious rug” is being woven by artists from Rabat, a suburb of Sardasht. The order for the rug, priced at one billion Iran rials (N14m) was reportedly placed by an Iranian merchant.

The website reports that the head of the Sardasht Commerce Department, Ali Zandesh, told the Iran News Agency on Tuesday that the rug was 12.8 metres long and 9.1 metres wide.

Zandesh said the job was scheduled to be completed in 10 months. So far, over 80 per cent of the contract has been done while the rest is expected to be completed within two months.

Zandesh stated that about 48 weavers and craftsmen worked on the rug in two shifts, noting that it was the biggest rug so far woven in Sardasht. Listing other specifications of the rug, Zandesh said it was made of first degree sheep wool, pure silk and natural paints, featuring legendary designs at its margins.

The report described Sardasht as one of the main rug-weaving centres in West Azerbaijan, where more than 2,300 square meters of various precious rugs are made each year. It added that Sardasht, which has an over 110,000 population, is located on the Iran-Iraq border.

However, the leadership of both the upper and lower chambers of the National Assembly has said that it was not involved in the alleged deal. The two chambers said that none of their principal officers were involved, even if the claim was correct.

According to the Senate Spokesperson, Senator Ayogu Eze, who said that he doubted the veracity of such a claim, none of its officers were involved in the matter. Eze, who spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview, wondered what the rug would be used for, when the offices of the senators and their House of Representatives counterparts were tiled.

Eze said, “That we want to import rug? What for? Is it for the yet to be completed offices or for the already completed ones? You have been to our offices and you are aware that we don’t need carpet for them? That story might not be true, please.”

The Spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, on the other hand said that it was not the duty of the leadership of the House to award contracts and therefore he would not be in the position to know if such was awarded.

He said that it was the duty of the civil servants in the House to do and not that of the House leadership.

Eseme said, “You know that I am the spokesperson for the House alone and not the entire National Assembly, and so I would not be able to know what you are talking about. But let me tell you that it is not the duty of the House leadership to be involved in awarding contract; that is the duty of the National Assembly management of which none of us can claim to be part of.”