The Home of Representatives on Monday, charged the Accountant-Basic of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to supply a complete breakdown of all funds made to contractors from the N2.4 trillion lately launched by the Federal Authorities for challenge execution throughout the nation.
This adopted affirmation by officers from the Workplace of the Accountant-Basic that disbursements totalling N2.4tn have been given out to varied contractors executing tasks for the Federal Authorities.
Lawmakers, nonetheless, insisted that the funds should translate into tasks that Nigerians can see, contact, and profit from, warning contractors towards the fraudulent apply of brandishing certificates of completion for jobs that exist solely on paper.
The warning was issued by Deputy Speaker of the Home and Chairman of the Advert-hoc Committee on Funds Implementation, Benjamin Kalu after a heated session with leaders of the Affiliation of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria.
Recall that solely every week in the past, the Home waded into the disaster triggered by contractors who blocked the Ministry of Finance in protest over unpaid arrears.
Responding, the Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, charged Kalu to steer a particular committee to interrupt the impasse and restore order.
The committee’s first sitting on September 4, 2025, secured the federal government’s dedication to launch 25% of the debt, with one other evaluation slated for September 21.
On Sunday, the Workplace of the Accountant Basic of the Federation disclosed that N2.4tn had been paid out, leaving ₦160bn as excellent debt. He additional revealed that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun had accepted one other ₦760bn in warrants and money backing, elevating the federal government’s whole dedication to about ₦3.1tn.
Addressing journalists on Monday, Kalu welcomed the funds however famous nonetheless that each the federal government and contractors stay below scrutiny.
“When contractors blocked the Finance Ministry, the Home intervened to revive order. We calmed the disaster by means of legislative diplomacy. However let or not it’s clear: we’re not right here to defend phantom claims or rubber-stamp corruption. ₦2.4tn is just not pocket change. Nigerians should see actual tasks for this type of cash,” Kalu mentioned.
He acknowledged progress on some fronts, together with partial settlement of arrears and batch quantity clearance, however famous that bottlenecks with warrants and money backing stay a priority.
“Authorities confirmed that ₦2.4tn has been paid already, with one other ₦760bn within the pipeline. That’s roughly ₦3.1tn. But, contractors are nonetheless on the streets shouting neglect. This Home desires to know who precisely has been paid, how a lot, and who has not. Something in need of full disclosure is unacceptable.
“It’s depraved to declare a hospital full when sufferers nonetheless die with out beds. It’s fraudulent to say that school rooms have been constructed when kids nonetheless examine below timber. Each kobo should match seen outcomes. No extra paper tasks. No extra lies,” he warned.
The committee, he added, has demanded a verified spreadsheet from the Accountant-Basic to reconcile the federal government’s claims with contractors’ grievances.
“We’re decided to reveal any discrepancies. If ₦2.4tn has been launched and contractors are nonetheless crying foul, one thing could be very incorrect, and we’ll unravel it,” Kalu vowed.
He assured Nigerians that the panel won’t relent, asserting that one other post-agreement evaluation session has been fastened for October 5, 2025, the place each authorities officers and contractors will communicate on the extent of progress.