Wetin dey happen for this Nigeria sef? Federal Government don drop N152 billion for contractors wey dem verify, but na as we dey talk, protest dey burst everywhere! Na wah o!
Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, come yarn say dem follow proper process before dem release the cash. E say dem sabi say contractors dey carry plenty pressure because of payment wahala and dem go continue to dey process valid payment request.
“I go confirm say we don release N152 billion for contractors. Every payment get rigorous checks to make sure say taxpayers’ money no go waka anyhow,” she talk for im statement wey dem post for X (wey be Twitter before). Hmmm, na wetin we fit hear again!
But dem no fit take away the protests wey don dey happen since 2025. Local contractors join body wey dem call All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria come dey block gates for finance ministry and National Assembly to press for dem demands. The backlog of unpaid bills don reach N1.5 trillion, gass!
Last December, President Bola Tinubu even set up committee wey go fix this wahala, but e be like say dem no do enough as protests don dey start again. On Monday, contractors block the standard gate of Federal Ministry of Finance and the matter turn into fight as security and protestors dey do their own thing.
People talk say gunshot shoot once as security personnel try scatter the crowd. Omo, wahala no dey finish! PUNCH Online don report say Federal Government budget N1.7 trillion for 2026 wey go settle outstanding debts wey dey collect since 2024.
The proposed budget wey dem dey plan show say na “Provision for 2024 Outstanding Contractor’s Liabilities” dey sit down for the table, meaning say dem don recognize say contractors go need their money plus plus as protests dey continue to dey rise.
Aside the N1.7 trillion for 2024 wahala, dem also budget N100 billion for another item wey dem call “Payment of Local Contractors’ Debts/Other Liabilities.” We no even sabi how many years left for ground wey them go still settle these issues!
The total wey dem dey plan to use dey reach N1.8 trillion as part of the bigger budget of N23.2 trillion wey go carry beta development enter infrastructure while dey try manage wetin don pass. But the way things dey go, e be like say more protests dey come, we go dey follow am sharp sharp!
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