By Muhammad Mamman
The House of Representatives has gone into 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 ballooning backlog of payments owed to indigenous contractors.
The meeting comes on the heels of mounting protests by local contractors who accuse the Federal Government of withholding billions of naira for projects duly completed in the 2024 fiscal year. The contractors have held multiple demonstrations in Abuja, calling on the Ministry of Finance to release the outstanding funds and urging lawmakers to intervene before businesses collapse.
Parliamentary sources say the House is seeking clarity on the cause of the delays, the exact size of the debt portfolio, and the steps being taken by the Finance Ministry and FIRS to clear verified claims. Lawmakers are also expected to interrogate the fiscal implications of the arrears and the impact on ongoing and future capital projects.
Contractor groups have warned that continued non-payment threatens jobs, supply chains and the viability of indigenous companies already grappling with rising inflation and high borrowing costs.
The outcome of the closed-door session is expected to shape the House’s next steps, including possible resolutions compelling immediate action from the executive arm.
