In a major breakthrough, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, successfully mediated a resolution on Thursday, ending a prolonged standoff between the Federal Government and indigenous contractors across Nigeria.
Appointed by Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen as Chairman of the House Special Committee on Budget Implementation, Kalu convened a marathon meeting lasting over four hours, attended by over 80 contractors, their leadership, and key government officials, including Finance Minister Wale Edun and Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi. The open dialogue addressed grievances related to delayed payments, which had sparked protests among the contractors.
Following the discussions, Kalu announced that all parties reached a mutually beneficial agreement, averting further disruptions and safeguarding Nigeria’s economy. Payments to contractors are set to commence on Monday, following the resolution of procedural and approval backlogs.
Speaking after the meeting, Kalu expressed gratitude to Speaker Tajudeen and his colleagues for entrusting him with the responsibility. “I thank the Speaker and the House leadership for finding me worthy to chair the Budget Implementation Committee. We cut short our holidays to address this critical issue,” Kalu said. He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing capable officials who demonstrated humility and diligence, noting that implementation of the agreed strategies began immediately after Wednesday’s preliminary discussions.
Kalu added, “We engaged for over four hours, and the contractors left smiling. We’ve put a strategy in place and will reconvene on the 21st to review progress and chart the way forward.”
Finance Minister Wale Edun commended Kalu’s leadership, assuring that payments would begin on Monday after the Central Bank reopens following Friday’s holiday. “Under Rt. Hon. Kalu’s leadership, we held a marathon meeting where all issues were discussed, a timeline was established, and a clear path forward was mapped out,” Edun said. “The Accountant-General made commitments that helped us achieve a peaceful solution. Contractors will be paid for jobs done, and we’ll address backlogs systematically.”
Edun emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to settling contractor payments, stating, “We’ve been paying contractors and will continue to do so. From Monday, payments will start dropping.”
The resolution has been hailed as a testament to the power of dialogue, with stakeholders commending Kalu’s intervention and the contractors’ willingness to engage. The House of Representatives and the Federal Government reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring timely payments and fostering economic stability through orderly processes.
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