Former presidential candidate and ex‑Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has accused the Federal Authorities of failing to pay native contractors regardless of Nigeria’s reported income progress in 2025.
In a press release issued on X (previously Twitter), Obi referred to as out the federal government in response to widespread protests by unpaid contractors throughout Abuja and different areas.
The event comes after native contractors have voiced rising frustration for a number of months over the federal government’s failure to settle licensed funds for work they accomplished on federal tasks in 2024 and 2025
What he stated
Obi described the scenario going through contractors as deeply troubling, significantly for small and medium-sized enterprises that type the spine of native economies.
He pointed to studies and pictures of native contractors protesting in a number of areas, noting that many of those companies have delivered important public companies with the expectation that the federal government would honour its commitments.
“Most of those contractors are small and medium-sized companies which can be important to the financial system in varied areas, comprising bizarre Nigerians who’ve delivered important public companies with the expectation that the federal government would honour its commitments,” he stated.
Obi stated it was much more regarding that these protests have been occurring after the federal government had claimed a income surplus. He emphasised {that a} authorities can not declare report income whereas leaving 1000’s of contractors unpaid, highlighting broader problems with transparency in public finance administration.
“President Tinubu publicly introduced in August that Nigeria had “met and surpassed its income goal for the yr.” With such a formidable report, one would count on elevated funding within the financial system, particularly in training, healthcare, and packages that alleviate poverty. But, the federal government has nonetheless did not pay contractors.
“A accountable authorities can not declare report income whereas concurrently leaving 1000’s of contractors unpaid. This contradiction highlights deeper points associated to transparency in our public finance administration and governance,” he added
Financial implications
The previous governor warned that delayed funds have critical financial repercussions, noting that companies could shut down, employees may lose their jobs, households could face hardship, and the nation’s general productive capability may decline.
He burdened {that a} sturdy financial system can’t be constructed when public funds are mismanaged, obligations are ignored, and native companies are handled as expendable.
Obi urged the federal government to translate its elevated income into well timed funds for contractors and assist the expansion of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Assembly obligations to contractors, he argued, is a measure of honesty, competence, and management, and a authorities that fails to fulfil these commitments can’t be trusted to construct a nation.
What you must know
Contractors beneath teams such because the All Indigenous Contractors Affiliation of Nigeria have repeatedly taken to the streets, blocking entrances to the Federal Ministry of Finance and demonstrating on the Nationwide Meeting to demand cost of what they describe as lengthy‑overdue obligations
Nairametrics reported that AICAN threatened a nationwide protest beginning on November 3 over unpaid authorities tasks. Some tasks have been even commissioned with out settling excellent obligations
In June, the Federal Authorities introduced plans to clear excellent funds for contractors who accomplished verified tasks, with the Workplace of the Accountant Normal confirming efforts are underway to make sure all correctly executed contracts are paid. The Nigerian Senate accepted a second extension of the implementation interval for the 2024 capital element of the nationwide price range, shifting the deadline from June 30, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
Be First to Comment