By Ayo Ayodele
The House of Representatives has asked the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to provide evidence of N2.4 trillion allegedly paid to contractors as approved by the Federal Government.
Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this after a meeting with local contractors in Abuja, convened to address protests over unpaid debts for executed projects.
Kalu explained that government officials claimed N2.4 trillion had been disbursed, leaving only N160 billion outstanding. He added that an extra N760 billion had also been approved, bringing the total payments to about N3.1 trillion.
“We want the Accountant-General to present a spreadsheet showing the contractors that received payment. How can N2.4 trillion enter the system and the same contractors are still protesting on the streets?” Kalu asked.
He warned contractors against making false claims of completed projects. “It would be wickedness to say a hospital has been built while lives are still being lost for lack of one, or to claim roads and schools exist when they don’t,” he said.
Kalu assured that the National Assembly would continue to pressure the executive to meet its obligations while ensuring contractors deliver quality projects.