By Local contractors across Nigeria are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the alleged delay of payments for projects executed since 2024. Many say they’ve received payment vouchers without actual cash backing, leaving them stranded and financially strained.
The affected contractors suspect the issue stems from a new policy requiring all payments to be processed centrally through the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), which they claim has created bottlenecks and disrupted the usual payment flow.
One contractor, Mr. Ibrahim Bamisaye from Ibadan, shared his frustration during a press briefing in Ilorin, saying, “We’re stuck paying interest on loans and bonds used to complete government projects. Meanwhile, workers go unpaid and feeding our families is becoming harder each day.”
Bamisaye emphasized that previously, once projects were advertised and completed, payments were made promptly by relevant agencies. But now, the centralisation under the AGF’s office is causing significant delays. “This new policy is a burden. It’s slowing everything down,” he said.
He commended President Tinubu for reducing Nigeria’s debt exposure and increasing external reserves but warned that economic growth will remain abstract unless local contractors are paid. “When we’re paid, money circulates and the people feel the government’s impact,” Bamisaye said.
He urged the President to address the issue swiftly, stating that the credibility of Nigeria’s budget implementation is at stake. “Never in our history has the government struggled this much to fulfill its financial obligations,” he concluded.
