Less than two days after members of the House of Representatives accused the Tinubu administration of poor implementation of the 2024–2025 budgets, and warned that they would not consider the 2026 Appropriation Bill until outstanding obligations were cleared, President Bola Tinubu has moved to address the growing crisis surrounding unpaid federal contractors.
On Wednesday, after the Federal Executive Council meeting, Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga announced that the President had established a multi-ministerial committee to resolve the mounting debts owed to contractors, which now stand at about ₦1.5 trillion. According to him, Tinubu expressed strong dissatisfaction upon learning that more than 2,000 contractors, many of them indigenous firms, remain unpaid despite having completed various projects.
Read Also:
Seven Osun APC governorship aspirants step down, back Oyebamiji after meeting with Tinubu
Reps accuse Tinubu govt of poorly implementing 2025 budgets
The revelation came during a briefing by Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, who outlined the scale of the federal government’s financial obligations. Following his presentation, Tinubu directed senior officials across finance, budget, economic planning, works, housing, taxation and procurement to jointly develop a clear and realistic plan for releasing the outstanding funds.
The President reportedly emphasised that resolving the crisis must be treated as a matter of urgency and made it clear that the federal government is prepared to borrow—if necessary—to settle verified contractor debts. He insisted that the group must meet, harmonise their findings, and present a workable solution for immediate implementation.
This intervention comes amid intensifying frustration from contractors nationwide. The Coalition of Indigenous FCT Contractors staged a dramatic protest on Tuesday, blocking the main entrance of the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja with a truck while chanting the name of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. They claimed the administration owed them ₦5.2 billion for projects they said had been completed and verified, and demanded immediate payment.
The contractor protests add pressure to an already strained political atmosphere. Earlier this week, lawmakers openly criticised the executive for what they described as an unacceptable level of budget non-performance. Several members of the House argued that the government cannot seek approval for a new budget cycle when it has not fulfilled key funding commitments within the current one. Some have insisted that the 2026 Appropriation Bill will not be considered until outstanding obligations—including contractor payments and capital releases—are met.
The broader implications of the conflict highlight a significant test for the Tinubu administration. Nigeria is navigating a period marked by rising inflation, economic adjustment following subsidy removal, and increasing scrutiny of public spending. The contractor debt, now accumulated across multiple administrations, has become a symbol of the systemic delays and financial bottlenecks affecting national development.
As the newly constituted committee begins its work, expectations are high. Its recommendations, and the speed at which they are implemented, will play a major role in determining whether confidence can be restored among contractors, lawmakers and the wider public. For many observers, the handling of this crisis will be an early indicator of the administration’s fiscal discipline and its resolve to match promises with tangible action.
