The House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement has directed the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, to urgently settle outstanding payments to contractors executing federal projects. The directive was issued during a meeting held on Friday in Abuja.
Committee Chairman Unyime Idem said the House leadership was concerned about the prolonged delay in payments, which has persisted for up to three years. He noted that the committee receives daily petitions from contractors over unpaid dues.
In September 2025, contractors staged a peaceful protest in Abuja to highlight their grievances. The protest prompted Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to appoint Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu to engage with the contractors and reaffirm the government’s commitment to honouring contracts.
Earlier in June, Senator Abdul Ningi raised an alarm over the non-payment of contractors since 2024, calling for a probe into the matter. The Office of the Accountant General subsequently pledged to initiate payments.
Idem stated that the committee had worked to prevent further unrest among contractors. “If not for our intervention, offices would have been burnt,” he said. “We’ve managed their anger and protests with wisdom and leadership.”
The committee also demanded that Ogunjimi submit documents within seven days explaining alleged infractions in contract awards between 2023 and 2025. These include cases where contracts were awarded without budgetary backing.
In response, Ogunjimi acknowledged irregularities in contract processing by some government agencies. He said some contracts were issued without adequate funding, creating systemic gaps.
He assured the committee that payment processes had commenced and that a formal response to all budget-related concerns would be submitted within the week. Ogunjimi added that several officials involved in the infractions had since been redeployed from the FCT.
The House committee’s intervention underscores its oversight role in ensuring fiscal accountability and transparency in public procurement. The issue remains critical to sustaining contractor confidence and project delivery nationwide.
