By Muhammad Mamman
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a swift and comprehensive resolution to the longstanding debts owed to more than 2,000 federal contractors, signalling a renewed push to restore confidence in government project financing and strengthen Nigeria’s infrastructure delivery.
The directive, disclosed via Politics Nigeria, follows briefings presented to the President detailing the scale of outstanding obligations across multiple ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Many of the contractors have reportedly faced operational strain, stalled projects and financial setbacks due to years of unpaid certificates.
According to Presidency officials, President Tinubu expressed displeasure over the accumulation of such debts, noting that delayed payments threaten ongoing projects and undermine the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and timely execution of public works.
The President has therefore ordered ministries and relevant agencies to verify, reconcile and fast-track the settlement of all genuine claims. The move is expected to clear bottlenecks and enable contractors to resume suspended projects nationwide.
Officials also hinted that the government is adopting a more robust monitoring system to prevent the future build-up of unpaid obligations, ensuring that project financing aligns accurately with budgetary provisions.
The directive is seen as part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to stimulate economic activity, support local businesses and restore trust between the government and private-sector partners responsible for key infrastructure delivery.
