Members of the Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria on Tuesday staged a protest at the National Assembly gate in Abuja, demanding payment for completed projects.
Some of the protesters carried banners and placards with messages such as “Concerned contractors owed by the federal government of Nigeria,” “It’s a crime against humanity for the government not to pay contractors for about 360 days.”
“Payment delays is fraud, not just injustice,” “No payment to contractor, no peace,” and “Contractors deserve payment, not fake promises.”
The demonstration follows a similar incident last month, when contractors besieged the National Assembly Complex, forcing the House of Representatives to suspend plenary for one week.
The contractors accused the federal government of refusing to release funds earmarked in the 2024/2025 budgets.
In response, Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, said Bola Tinubu directed Minister of Finance Wale Edun and Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi to commence payment to contractors.
Earlier, in September, Edun stated that the federal government had adopted a structured process to address outstanding obligations.
He added that under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, a marathon meeting had been held where all issues were discussed, a timeline agreed upon, and a clear plan for addressing backlogs was established.
“Once again, we commend the leadership of the House of Representatives and the contractors for their willingness to sit down and dialogue.
“The accountant-general of the federation made some commitments which helped us to chart the way forward,” Edun said.
The protest underscores growing frustration among contractors over delayed payments and calls for the government to honour its financial obligations.
Follow Parallel Facts on WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
