Reps suspend plenary for one week over contractors’ protest at National Assembly
The House of Representatives on Tuesday suspended its plenary session for one week as local contractors protesting non-payment for executed projects staged protest at the major entrance to the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
Lawmakers said the protest has made it difficult for them and their staff to access their offices, noting that the protest would last one week.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Abdullahi Halims, Deputy Majority Leader, on the non- implementation of the 2024–2025 budgets and the continued non-payment of local contractors despite repeated assurances from the executive arm.
Presenting the motion, Halims drew attention to the plight of local contractors who have on several occasions protested over unpaid jobs. He said the contractors had returned to the National Assembly gates to press home their demands and vowed to continue their protest for a week.
“The House notes the plight of local contractors who have protested severally in the past and are presently protesting at the gate of the National Assembly, intending to continue for the next one week,” Halims stated.
Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker, had previously led a high-level committee meeting with the Ministers of Finance and Budget, during which the officials made firm commitments to ensure that payments were made to contractors who executed jobs under the 2024 and 2025 appropriations. However, lawmakers noted that implementation of those assurances had remained “abysmal.”
Lawmakers further noted that the leadership of the National Assembly had also met with President Bola Tinubu alongside the Ministers of Finance and Budget, after which the President reportedly directed both ministers to immediately effect payments to local contractors and accelerate budget implementation. According to the House, those directives have yet to be implemented several weeks after they were issued.
Members expressed concern that the continued non-payment of contractors has deepened economic hardship for small business owners and suppliers, worsened poverty, and heightened tension across the country.
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Following extensive debate, the House resolved to suspend plenary for one week to allow the leadership to engage the executive arm and ensure compliance with its resolutions.
It also resolved to give the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Accountant-General of the Federation seven days to effect payment of all outstanding bills owed to local contractors for 2024 and to ensure full commencement of the 2025 budget implementation.
The House further mandated its leadership to monitor and enforce strict compliance with the resolution and to report back within one week for further drastic legislative action.
