Federal Govt Sets Up 6 C’ttees To Clear N1.5trn Debt Owed Contractors

The federal government has set up six committees for each of the six geopolitical zones to clear the N1.5 trillion debts owed contractors for road projects across the country.

The Minister of Works, Engr. David is Umahi, who disclosed this, said the current administration inherited unpaid certificates from the past administration for road projects across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, said the committees were mandated to review all debts of unpaid certified certificates generated before May 29, 2023, and from May 29, 2023 to date.

He said the committees will also review the approved and unapproved variation of prices and all augmentations that were approved or were yet to be approved and make recommendations to the Ministry’s management.

“The Ministry has exposed these debts and all reviews in the Ministry to Mr. President’s economic team and also to the Federal Executive Committee on road sector funding.

“It is believed that the internal works through these constituted committees will help them to use external Consultants to reverify the works so that concrete decisions will be made to move the Ministry forward.

“Contractors who are being owed are requested to approach these committees with all documents to back up their claims from Tuesday 12th 2023 to Friday, 22nd of December 2023 from 9 am to 7pm at the Honourable Minister’s Conference Room, 1st floor, Federal Ministry of Works Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja,” he said.

The Minister added that the road sector needed a different kind of attention beyond the 2024 budget envelope received by the Ministry.

“For a developing nation like Nigeria, road sector development is a catalyst for economic development.

“The road sector has the potential to improve the security sector, agricultural sector, trade and investment, health, education ,and, in fact, every aspect of the development of every nation,” the statement added.