Nigeria’s House of Representatives has suspended plenary sessions for one week to address the growing crisis over unpaid debts owed to contractors nationwide.
The lawmakers took the decision on Tuesday after adopting an urgent motion presented by Malam Kabiru Ahmadu Mai-Palace during a session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The motion followed widespread protests at the National Assembly earlier in the day. Hundreds of contractors had barricaded the complex’s main entrance, demanding immediate payment for completed and ongoing projects funded under previous budgets.
Chairman of the Rules and Business Committee, Francis Waive, who seconded the motion, said the disruption made it nearly impossible to continue legislative proceedings. He emphasized that lawmakers and staff could barely access the assembly due to the contractors’ blockade.
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda moved a separate motion that issued a one-week ultimatum to the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, to release funds and clear the outstanding debts.
Chinda expressed frustration that despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for payments to commence, both ministries have allegedly failed to act. He warned that the delay was deepening economic hardship among contractors and undermining budget implementation for both 2024 and 2025.
“The prolonged non-payment of contractors is worsening hardship and stalling critical development projects nationwide,” Chinda stated.
Following the heated deliberations, the House resolved to suspend plenary for one week to allow leadership to engage directly with the executive arm of government. The goal, lawmakers said, is to ensure immediate compliance with Tinubu’s payment directive and restore confidence among contractors.
Meanwhile, the House chamber also descended into a rowdy session earlier over a separate matter concerning alleged irregularities at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex. The disagreement arose after Hon. Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos) moved a motion directing the Committee on Public Assets to investigate alleged illegal allocation and sale of federal property within the complex.
However, Hon. Francis Waive challenged the motion, arguing that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce. The disagreement forced lawmakers into a closed-door executive session to restore calm.
The House leadership is now expected to meet with top officials of the Finance and Budget Ministries within the week to push for swift payment of the contractors’ arrears.