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THE STATE House tower block popularly known as Job 600, which is being converted into offices for Members of Parliament, is on schedule and would be ready for next Parliament. The 12-storey and 3-bay tower block, which is being rehabilitated by the China State Hualong Construction Ghana Limited (Contractor) and ADK Consortium (Design Company) at a cost of $63 million, is now a state-of-the-art facility. It comprises 252 offices for MPs including 192 standard offices, 48 standard offices plus, 10 prime offices and two prime offices plus, committee rooms as well as a library, research area and a pre-conference hall. New extensions such as an auditorium, a comprehensive catering facility with a new kitchen and dining options, gymnasium, a church, a mosque and supporting service facilities have been added to the original building. A joint committee of the Water Resources, Works and Housing, and Finance committees yesterday toured the project site to inspect the progress of work. Briefing members of the committee and the parliamentary press corps, the Chairman of ADK Consortium, Michael Kraku, indicated that 95 percent of the work would be completed by the end of August 2012. He indicated that MPs could use the offices by that time, while the remaining 5 percent would be completed before the next parliament. However, Mr. Kraku informed members of the committee that additional money would be needed to provide furnishing in the building. He explained that furnishing was not part of the project cost of $63 million, adding that there was now the need to fully furnish all the offices before the building was handed over to parliament for its use. David Tetteh Assumeng and James Avedzi Klutse, Chairmen of the Water Resources, Works and Housing, and Finance Committees respectively, in brief remarks, indicated they were impressed with the progress of work so far. �We are impressed with the extent of work so far and we are happy that Members of Parliament would now have offices to do their work. This is a plus for our parliamentary democracy�, David Assumeng, who is also the MP for Shai Osudoku, observed. The ranking member on the finance committee, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, expressed similar sentiments, reiterating that he was very impressed with progress of work. The Job 600 project commenced on April 1, 2010 after the contractor received mobilization payment from government. The main works included facilities already mentioned, structural retrofitting of the physical structure of the tower block, extensive rehabilitation of the electrical and mechanical services needed for the facility. There are also new provisions for fire and safety protection, passenger and service elevators, fresh security, ICT and other modern office management systems.