Concerns over Nigerian govt’s delayed payment of contractors

There have been concerns over the delayed payment of contractors by the Nigerian Government.

This was amplified recently by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, Obi Aguocha.

He had called on the Nigerian government to look into payments accrued to the contractors since last year.

Earlier in June 2025, Bauchi lawmaker, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi had also raised an alarm over non-payment of federal government contractors since 2024.

On the floor of the Senate, Senator Ningi called for an immediate investigation.

In reaction, the Federal Government through the OAGF had pledged commitment to begin payment to contractors. However, that pledge was not immediately fulfilled.

The situation continued to trigger concerns and anxiety among stakeholders, with its attendant effect on the economy.

Stakeholders fume

Meanwhile, in an interview with DAILY POST on Monday, the immediate former President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Wammako, said the FG’s non-payment to contractors affects the generality of the economy.

According to him, contractors are not alone in the problem; rather, it impacts the entire sector of the country.

He urged the federal government not to waste any time to clear indebtedness to contractors so the funds would circulate across every sector of the economy.

“Non-payment of funds to contractors by the Federal Government is a general problem for the whole of Nigeria.

“This is because it is the turnaround of funds between the contractors, labourers, and professionals that is the bedrock of the country’s economy.

“Since FG has tightened its finances, everybody is feeling it; it is not only one sector of the sector.

“FG should listen to the call already made by Senator Abdul Ningi on the floor of the Senate and disburse payment to contractors,” he told DAILY POST.

While the Federal Government has announced the commencement of payment, contractors are yet to confirm the development as of the time of filing this report.

Reports showed that Nigeria spent only a little fraction of the N24.9 trillion budget approved for capital projects in 2024 and did not talk of the N23.96 trillion for capital expenditure in 2025.

The Senate in June approved the second extension in seven months of capital budget implementation.

Recently, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government, in response to critics that its capital project was skewed in favour of Lagos State, clarified the administration’s projects cut across all six geopolitical zones in the country.

However, DAILY POST observed that none are 50 per cent completed at the moment.

Nigerian govt begins payment to contractors amid outrage

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has confirmed that it has begun clearance of outstanding indebtedness to the contractors for projects domiciled with ministries, departments and agencies amid outrage by stakeholders and Nigerians.

The spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the federation, Bawa Mokwa, disclosed this to DAILY POST exclusively in an interview on Monday.

The development comes after more than a year of non-payment to contractors handling federal government MDA projects.

However, contractors are yet to confirm the said payments.

Concerns over Nigerian govt’s delayed payment of contractors