The House of Representatives has mandated the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, to provide a comprehensive spreadsheet detailing payments made to contractors as part of the ₦2.4 trillion approved by the government for project implementation.
The directive follows confirmation by the Office of the Accountant-General that approximately ₦2.4 trillion had been approved for disbursement to contractors.
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Budget Implementation, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, gave the directive after a high-level meeting with the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.
According to a statement by the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the House also tasked contractors with ensuring the authenticity of executed projects, warning against receiving payments for incomplete or fictitious work.
“Government is not paying for a piece of paper or a Certificate of Completion when jobs have not been properly done,” Kalu warned. “It would be wicked to claim a hospital has been built when people are dying due to lack of access to healthcare.”
The committee was established following public protests by contractors over delayed payments.
At the initial meeting held on September 4, 2025, a temporary resolution was reached, leading to 25 per cent of payments being made to the contractors.
Sunday’s meeting served as a follow-up appraisal of compliance with the agreed terms.
During the session, the Director of Funds in the Accountant-General’s office confirmed that ₦2.4 trillion had been approved, with only ₦160 billion yet to be paid.
He also revealed that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, had approved an additional ₦760 billion for warrant and cash backing for the remaining months, bringing the total disbursement to approximately ₦3.1 trillion.
Kalu commended the government for taking decisive action despite Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges.
“Approving over ₦3 trillion for contractor payments within eight months of this administration is a significant step in the right direction. It shows the government is listening,” he said.
Kalu however directed Office of the Accountant-General to release detailed payment records to verify the contractors’ claims by the House.
“It’s not a good image for the government if ₦2.4 trillion has been paid and contractors are still protesting in the streets. We need to match names to payments and confirm that those paid actually delivered on projects,” he said.
He further cautioned contractors against short-changing the government and the public by submitting incomplete or substandard work.
“The principle is clear: let him who worked be paid. But we must also ensure that what is being paid for truly serves the people. No more ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.’”
The next appraisal meeting has been scheduled for October 5, 2025, where both parties will provide updates on progress made.
