Contractors Lock National Assembly Gate — Say Govment Owe ₦3 Trillion

Operations for di National Assembly scatter on Wednesday as hundreds of vexed local contractors, lawyers and civil society people block di main entrance and exit of di complex, protest say Federal Government dey owe dem about ₦3 trillion. Di protest cause serious wahala for motor movement from di Assembly gate reach Federal Secretariat side for Abuja, make lawmakers, workers and visitors find another road enter. Plenary and committee sittings no fit hold as some lawmakers dey stranded outside. Di contractors, wey carry placards and dey sing solidarity songs, talk say dem no go move until government pay dem for projects wey dem don finish. Di National President of All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, Jackson Nwosu, talk say dem don tire to wait after plenty failed promises. “We dey here because government refuse to pay us for capital projects wey we don execute since 2024. Our association alone dey owed over ₦3 trillion,” e yarn.

Nwosu still talk say dem don meet many government officials including di Ministry of Finance, Accountant General and even Deputy Speaker of House of Reps, Benjamin Kalu, but nothing don change. E claim say dem hear di wahala dey from Presidency side, even though one senator promise dem yesterday say dem matter go soon settle. “Until we see our alerts, we no dey move,” E add. Di protest come just one day after similar blockade make lawmakers suspend plenary on Tuesday. As reaction, House of Reps don give Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and others seven days to pay contractors. On Wednesday, di House hold closed-door meeting wey last more than two hours to discuss di protest and wetin fit happen next. As at 3 p.m., di meeting still dey go on and no official update don come out. Di contractors wey claim say government don already verify and clear dia payments accuse dem of shifting deadlines. Wednesday protest mark di second day of serious blockade wey cause traffic jam for Three Arms Zone, as people dey call for quick action make di standoff no spoil legislative work