President Bola Tinubu has established a multi-ministerial committee to address the crisis over unpaid federal contractors, with outstanding obligations put at about N1.5 trillion. Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga said the president expressed strong dissatisfaction after learning that more than 2,000 contractors remain unpaid for completed projects.
He said Adebowale Adedokun, director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement, briefed the federal executive council on the scale of the debt. The new committee includes Wale Edun, minister of finance; Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning; Tanimu Yakubu, director-general of the budget office; Dave Umahi, minister of works; Ahmed Dangiwa, minister of housing; and Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
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According to Onanuga, the panel has been instructed to review the causes of the delays, identify funding sources and submit a clear plan for the release of verified payments. He added that the president said the federal government was willing to borrow if necessary to settle the outstanding debts.
The move comes after repeated protests by indigenous contractors over unpaid contract sums.
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