Contractors seek Tinubu’s intervention over unpaid project funds

Nigerian contractors have urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the alleged non-payment of funds for various projects executed since 2024.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, some of the contractors, led by Mr Ibrahim Bamisaye, a contractor from Ibadan, Oyo State, expressed their frustration over the alleged non-payment for contracts awarded by the Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Bamisaye stated that while some contractors were issued payment vouchers indicating they had been paid, they later discovered there was no cash backing to access the funds.

The contractors opined that the delay in payment could be linked to the alleged centralisation of payment procedures for local contractors by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).

“The resultant effect on us is that we keep servicing the interest on the loans and bonds we secured to execute and complete these projects. We had hoped the funds would be released as scheduled. Our workers cannot receive their salaries, and meeting the needs of our families is becoming increasingly difficult,” Bamisaye said.

“The pre-condition is that there must first be funds available before the advertisement of projects. Then, the relevant agencies would upload and effect payment to the various contractors. This would prevent any delays.

“However, the newly approved policy, which mandates that all contractors in Nigeria be paid directly from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, is causing significant delays in the payment process. We appeal to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to address this issue.”

Bamisaye commended the President for reducing Nigeria’s indebtedness to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and boosting the nation’s external reserves. He noted that the best measure of growth in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be an increase in the purchasing power of the masses.

“When we are paid, the masses will feel the impact. The flow of money will be tangible. Then, it is the President who will receive the accolades. Local contractors are struggling. The President should please come to our rescue. It has never been in Nigeria’s history that the government could not meet its obligations on budget implementation.

“If there is a paucity of funds, the government should not advertise projects in the first place. In the past, funds were released to the MDAs on a quarterly basis. We are now almost in the fifth month of the 2025 fiscal year,” he said.

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