FCT: Wike Questions ‘N15bn Debt’ Owed Local Contractors

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has questioned the propriety of claims of outstanding payments on excuted contracts in FCT worth N15 billion by local contractors, calling for transparency and accountability in the matter.

Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, in a press statement on Monday, said that if the claimants have documents showing the award of such contracts to them, they should produce them.

Olayinka stated that in December 2023, a bill of about N10 billion was presented to the minister as outstanding payment on jobs done by local contractors before he assumed office, which was tagged ‘Shopping’ or ‘Minor Procurement’.

According to the statement, in the same December 2023, payment of over N5 billion was approved by the Minister, and this was made immediately.

“In January 2024, another more than N5 billion was paid, clearing the over N10 billion outstanding bills. Three months after, another bill of over N15 billion was presented as outstanding payment on this same Minor Procurement.

“Then, the minister raised question as to who approved the contracts, because he didn’t award such contracts. How can you claim to have carried out jobs worth over N15 billion within three months, without the approval of the Minister?

“How can you accumulate over N15 billion debt on contracts within three months? From N15 billion to N8 billion and now N5 billion, the question is, on whose authority was the contracts awarded? Those are the questions they have to answer first,” he said.