{"id":121950,"date":"2025-09-05T10:46:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T09:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=121950"},"modified":"2025-09-05T10:46:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T09:46:19","slug":"kalu-resolves-indigenous-contractors-crisis-with-fg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/kalu-resolves-indigenous-contractors-crisis-with-fg\/","title":{"rendered":"Kalu Resolves Indigenous Contractors Crisis with FG"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n
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The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has successfully intervened to end the protracted face-off between the Federal Government and indigenous contractors, who are being owed monies for contract already executed.<\/div>\n
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The breakthrough followed a wave of protests staged in Abuja earlier in the week by members of the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria, who accused government ministries, departments and agencies of neglecting their contractual obligations. According to the contractors, repeated appeals to relevant authorities to clear outstanding payments had yielded little result, leaving many of them unable to meet financial commitments, pay staff salaries, or continue ongoing projects.<\/div>\n
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Their protest disrupted activities in parts of the Federal Capital Territory and threatened to snowball into a larger industrial crisis, with contractors vowing to shut down ongoing federal projects nationwide if their demands were ignored. The group argued that the delays not only crippled their businesses but also jeopardized the government\u2019s infrastructure development drive.<\/div>\n
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Faced with the escalating tension, the House of Representatives, through Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, mandated its Special Committee on Budget Implementation, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, to immediately step in and broker a truce between the parties.<\/div>\n
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In a statement issued on Thursday night by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu convened an expanded meeting on Thursday with over 80 contractors and their leaders from across the country for an open dialogue on the payment impasse.<\/div>\n
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The session, which lasted more than four hours, was attended by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, and other senior government officials.<\/div>\n
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At the end of the deliberations, Kalu announced that the issues had been amicably resolved in the overall interest of the nation\u2019s economy. He disclosed that payments to contractors will begin on Monday.<\/div>\n
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His efforts were applauded by both government representatives and the contractors, who noted that his mediation averted further disruptions and demonstrated the value of dialogue in resolving disputes.<\/div>\n
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Speaking after the meeting, Kalu expressed gratitude to Speaker Abbas and the House leadership for the confidence reposed in him as Chairman of the Special Committee on Budget Implementation. He further disclosed that the committee would reconvene on September 21 to review progress made.<\/div>\n
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“We cut short our holidays to address this very important matter. Yesterday, we met with the Finance Minister, the Minister of Budget and Planning, the Accountant-General, and representatives from key House committees. Today, after more than four hours of engagement, we have a clear strategy in place, and the contractors left satisfied,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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The Finance Minister, Mr. Edun, commended the Deputy Speaker\u2019s intervention, assuring that a clear timeline for payments had been established.<\/div>\n
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“We agreed on a systematic approach to settle the backlog of debts. Once the Central Bank reopens after Friday\u2019s holiday, payments will begin immediately on Monday,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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The Accountant-General, Mr. Ogunjimi, aligned with the minister\u2019s assurances, stating:<\/div>\n
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“We have been paying contractors and will continue to do so. From Monday, more payments will start dropping.\u201d<\/div>\n
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To this end, leaders of the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria welcomed the resolution, commending Kalu\u2019s role and pledging to discontinue further protests.<\/div>\n
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