Reps Call For Immediate Release Of Funds, Payments To Protesting Local Contractors … Immediate Implementation Of Capital Component Of 2025 Budget

By Alkassim Balarabe Tsakuwa, Abuja

The House of Representatives has called for immediate release of funds to pay local contractors their outstanding payments from completed contracts.

They made the call after deliberations on the issue during two closed-door sessions held on Wednesday.

The lawmakers expressed displeasure over the protest by Indigenous Contractors who blocked the main entrance of the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday.

They therefore called for immediate release of funds for completed projects and full implementation of the capital component of the 2024 Appropriation Act.

They also urged the Executive to ensure prompt commencement of the capital implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act once approved, to avoid project and development initiatives delays.

It could be recalled that, the House had earlier on Tuesday given the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun the minister of budget and national planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi one week to pay outstanding payments to local contractors.

The decision followed a resolution on an urgent motion by the House Minority Leader Hon. Kingsley Chinda on the protest by local contractors over non payment on executed contracts by the federal government.

The contractors have been demonstrating at the main entrance to the National Assembly Tuesday and Wednesday morning.