Reps suspend plenary following protest by contractors over withheld funds

The house of representatives has suspended its plenary sessions for one week following a protest by indigenous contractors at the national assembly over unpaid project funds.

The decision was taken during Tuesday’s, November 4, plenary after lawmakers adopted a motion sponsored by minority leader Kingsley Chinda.

Earlier in the day, contractors demonstrating against the non-payment of executed projects forced security operatives to shut the main gate of the national assembly, restricting movement and causing heavy traffic as staff and visitors were redirected to the entrance of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.

The aggrieved contractors, who have held similar demonstrations at the ministries of finance and works in recent months, claim they are yet to be paid for projects completed in 2024.

Deputy speaker Benjamin Kalu has engaged the contractors in multiple meetings to find a resolution.

During one such session attended by finance minister Wale Edun, assurances were given that their outstanding payments would soon be settled.

Chinda told the house that president Bola Tinubu had already directed Edun to “immediately pay the local contractors,” prompting lawmakers to suspend plenary for one week to allow time for the issue to be resolved.

“The instruction was not implemented several weeks thereafter,” Chinda said.

Chinda said the non-payment of the local contractors has caused “severe hardship” on them, increasing poverty in the country.

He prayed the house to give the federal government to seven days to pay the contractors.

The motion was unanimously adopted when Kalu subjected it to a voice vote.

Following that, Kabiru Mai Palace, lawmaker representing Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency of Zamfara, moved an amendment that the house suspend plenary for one week to compel the government to pay the contractors.

Francis Waive, the chairman of the committee on rules and business, seconded the motion, explaining that the national assembly had become inaccessible because of the protest.

“So that we won’t be fighting at the gate to come in [to the national assembly]. So it is sensible for us to keep away and give the government the time to do the needful,” Waive said.

Lawmakers voted in support of the motion and the house subsequently adjourned plenary sessions for one week.