House of Reps holds closed-door meeting with Finance Minister, FIRS Chair over unpaid contractor debts
The House of Representatives on Tuesday entered a closed-door session with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, to address the growing controversy surrounding delayed payments to indigenous contractors.
The meeting comes amid sustained protests by local contractors who say they are owed billions of naira for federal projects completed under the 2024 budget. Demonstrators have repeatedly shown up at the Ministry of Finance demanding immediate payment, warning that many indigenous firms are on the brink of collapse due to the prolonged delays.
Lawmakers summoned the two top officials to seek clarity on the status of the outstanding payments, the reasons for the backlog, and the federal government’s plan to clear the debts. Sources within the National Assembly indicate that the session aims to determine whether administrative bottlenecks, revenue shortfalls, or policy adjustments are responsible for the stalled disbursements.
The contractors, operating under various associations, insist that the government must intervene urgently to avoid job losses, project abandonment, and further financial strain on local businesses. They have urged the House of Representatives to compel the Finance Ministry to release funds already appropriated for the completed projects.
As the closed-door discussions continue, lawmakers are expected to brief the public on the outcome once agreements or actionable steps are reached. The resolution of the payment impasse is seen as critical to maintaining confidence in government procurement processes and supporting indigenous participation in federal infrastructure development.
