By Joe Udo
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Federal House of Representatives has resolved the indigenous contractors crisis.
Payments to indigenous contractors being owed by the Federal Government for projects executed are expected to commence from Monday next week.
Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, in a statement, says this followed a resolution reached by all parties after a marathon meeting that lasted four hours on Thursday in Abuja.
This brings to an end the standoff between the Federal Government and indigenous contractors of Nigeria who staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, over delayed payment for capital projects executed since 2024.
As Chairman of the House Special Committee on Budget Implementation, the Deputy Speaker convened an expanded meeting with the contractors numbering more than 80 across the country, with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi and other top government officials in attendance.
While payments to the contractors are expected to commence from Monday, Kalu also announced subsequent meetings later this month to evaluate progress.
He said the leadership of the Association of indigenous contractors of Nigeria expressed satisfaction with the resolutions reached and has pledged to discontinue the protest.
