The House of Representatives has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, to pay all outstanding debts owed to local contractors and begin full implementation of the 2025 budget.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance raised by Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, who informed the House of a protest by indigenous contractors that disrupted movement in and out of the National Assembly complex.
Lawmakers warned that the House would take “more drastic legislative measures” if the resolution was not implemented within the stipulated time.
Mr. Chinda noted that the leadership of the House had earlier met with the concerned ministers and later with President Bola Tinubu, who directed the immediate payment of local contractors.
The motion was unanimously adopted.
Additionally, a motion moved by Zamfara lawmaker, Ahmadu Mai Palace, calling for the House to adjourn in solidarity with the protesting contractors, was also adopted.
Chairman of the Rules and Business Committee, Francis Waive, seconded the motion, stressing that the inconvenience caused to members and other persons within the National Assembly complex would persist, as the contractors had threatened to intensify their protest over the next week.
