House Of Reps To Be ‘Out Of Session’ For One Week As FG Gets 7-Day Ultimatum To Pay Contractors
The House of Representatives disclosed on Tuesday that it will be out of session for one week while giving the Federal Government a 7-day ultimatum to attend to its financial obligations to the local contractors.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Rep Kabiru Maipalace had moved a motion of urgent public importance urging the parliament to suspend sittings until the Federal Government fulfils its pledge regarding financial obligations to the contractors, who handled contracts under the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
Earlier in the day, some contractors had staged a protest and barricaded the entrance of the National Assembly while promising to continue with this for seven days until their demands are met.
The Deputy Speaker, Rep Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session on Tuesday, called for an emergency closed-door meeting to address the situation and after the executive session, the Minority Leader drew attention to the government’s failure to implement the 2024–2025 budget and its adverse effects on the economy, lamenting that despite several meetings with the Ministers of Finance and Budget, as well as assurances from President Bola Tinubu, contractors have remained unpaid.
‘Contractors—our brothers and sisters—are at the gate protesting that they have not been paid for jobs executed since 2024. We have engaged the Executive multiple times, but the promises made have not been kept’ he said.
The House of Representatives later issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation to fulfil financial obligations to the local contractors and ensure full commencement of the 2025 budget implementation.
Maipalace thereafter moved a motion to stay out of session for one week submitting that the House of Representatives should reconvene only after receiving updates in this regard.
Supporting the motion, Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, said, ‘During this one week, the contractors have vowed to continue their protest and make this place inaccessible. It is only reasonable for us to step aside and allow the Executive to act’.
‘So, you’re saying members arrived late today because the road was blocked by contractors, and you don’t want a repeat next week?’ Deputy Speaker Kalu asked.
‘Definitely, Mr Speaker’ he said.
The federal lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion, stepped down all items on Tuesday’s Order Paper, and adjourned plenary until next week- -Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
