President Bola Tinubu has been charged to prioritize the payment of all outstanding debts owed local contractors in the country, in the overall interest of Nigeria.
Stakeholders in the All Progressive Congress ( APC), on the aegis of
the National Forum of APC Young Professionals (NFAYP), expressed worry over the payment to the local contractors. They expressed concern that the inability of the federal government to honour its contractual agreement with the contractors may ought the ruling party in the 2027 polls, if not addressed quickly.
The Non-payment of the local contractors for contracts executed had resulted in protests by the contractors, leading to the barricading of the entrance of the National Assembly and Ministry of Finance, for several days, last year. NFAYP, in a statement, on Sunday, by national chairman Lukman Adejobi, and Secretary, Godwin Lukas, cautioned the Ministers of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Works, Engr. Dave Umahi and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF), Mr. Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi; against placing premiums on the foreign contractors above their local counterparts. According to them,” despite the interventions of the National Assembly in October and the Presidential Committee set up by our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in December, 2025; the Ministers and Attorney-General of the Federation have refused to clear the arrears.
“They made some payments but to a large extent, over N2trillion is still outstanding, according to our findings. This non-payment of debts owed indigenous contractors is seriously affecting us politically, aside the economic aspect of it.”
They added, “you are complaining of lack of funds and said you have appropriated the sum of N1.8trillion in the 2026 budget, to clear outstandings of the 2024 capital projects executed by indigenous contractors; but you are paying foreign contractors, how do you want their local counterparts to feel? You have forgotten that these same local contractors would be the ones to stand for you tomorrow during elections. No foreigner can decide any vote during elections in Nigeria. If we don’t treat our own right, we would be the ones to suffer the consequences when the time comes.”
The sun
