By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Abuja
ABUJA: The House of Representatives has summoned key government officials over the non-payment of contractors by Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), a situation that has raised concerns about the effective implementation of infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
The summoned officials include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso; as well as the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Auditor-General. They have been called to appear before the House on Tuesday, May 13, to provide explanations for the delays in payments and present a clear plan for addressing the outstanding financial obligations.
This action follows a motion of urgent public importance raised by Hon. Ezechi Nnamdi, representing Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, and Uwani federal constituency of Delta State. During Thursday’s plenary, Hon. Nnamdi expressed his deep concern over the alarming situation, which has seen many contractors remain unpaid for jobs completed since October 2024. Despite allocations in the 2024 Appropriation Act, most MDAs have received less than half of their expected budget releases, leading to widespread abandonment of projects.
“This issue is not only a concern for the contractors but also for the Nigerian people who depend on these projects for better infrastructure and services. If this is not addressed urgently, we risk mass protests, legal disputes, and further economic instability,” Hon. Nnamdi warned.
The lawmaker highlighted that the delayed payments were directly impacting job security and the livelihood of thousands of Nigerians, while also threatening to undermine the credibility of the government’s infrastructure development efforts.
The House has also urged the Executive to prioritize clearing all verified debts and establish a transparent, timely payment system to rebuild public trust in the government’s ability to deliver essential projects. In addition, the Committees on Public Accounts and Budget and Economic Planning have been tasked with launching a joint investigation into the root causes of the systemic payment failures. They are expected to report their findings and make recommendations within four weeks.
As the crisis continues to unfold, the pressure is mounting on the government to resolve the issue quickly in order to avoid further damage to Nigeria’s infrastructure development and economic progress.