By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is awaiting for President Goodluck Jonathan for the take off of the NLC-Kriston Lally workers housing scheme, as the firm prepares to move to site for the full commencement of the construction in Abuja.

The inability of President Jonathan to fix a date for the launch of the scheme, the construction would have started as scheduled early this month following the arrivals from abroad of all the equipment for block making and others materials for the take off of the construction of the houses.

The leadership of the NLC and Krison Lally had met the President after their arrival from Greece where they finalised the agreement late last year, and the President had assured that the foundation laying would be done by him this January.

However, the busy schedule of President Jonathan appears to be delaying the launch of the scheme, and efforts made by NLC and the Managing Director of Kriston Lally, Alhaji Mustapha Madawaki, last week to get a date from the President was not successful.

Speaking on the development, Alhaji Mustapha Madawaki said they were only waiting for President Jonathan for the take off of the project and noted that he was hopeful to meet with the President this week to fix a date for the foundation laying ceremony and the launch of the project to signal the take off of the construction at the three sites in Abuja.

On workers who have subscribed and paid their initial money, Alhaji Madawaki said: “We want the president to come and do the stone laying ceremony. He had accepted to do this, but no date has been agreed as at last year. But by and large, we are ready. We are just waiting on the President to come and do the stone laying ceremony.

We are already making arrangement to move to site for the purpose of clearing and to start some aspect of the main work. Of course we expect to have some things on ground before the President comes for the stone laying foundation. He is not going to come to perform the stone laying on plain field. My thinking was to invite you in a week or two so that you can also go and see what we are doing.”