The Nigerian House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to provide evidence for alleged payments totalling ₦2.4 trillion to contractors, citing concerns of financial mismanagement.
During plenary, lawmakers said no documentation has been presented to verify the disbursement. They want itemised contracts, proof of service delivery, and banking records.
Recall that only a week ago, the House waded into the crisis triggered by contractors who blocked the Ministry of Finance in protest over unpaid arrears.
Responding, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, charged Kalu to lead a special committee to break the deadlock and restore order.
The committee’s first sitting on September 4, 2025, secured the government’s commitment to release 25% of the debt, with another review slated for September 21.
On Sunday, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation disclosed that N2.4tn had been paid out, leaving ₦160bn as outstanding debt. He further revealed that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun had approved another ₦760bn in warrants and cash backing, raising the government’s total commitment to about ₦3.1tn.
Addressing journalists on Monday, Kalu welcomed the payments but noted however that both the government and contractors remain under scrutiny.
“When contractors blocked the Finance Ministry, the House intervened to restore order. We calmed the crisis through legislative diplomacy. But let it be clear: we are not here to defend phantom claims or rubber-stamp corruption. ₦2.4tn is not pocket change. Nigerians must see real projects for this kind of money,” Kalu said.
He acknowledged progress on some fronts, including partial settlement of arrears and batch number clearance, but noted that bottlenecks with warrants and cash backing remain a concern.
“Government confirmed that ₦2.4tn has been paid already, with another ₦760bn in the pipeline. That’s roughly ₦3.1tn. Yet, contractors are still on the streets shouting neglect. This House wants to know who exactly has been paid, how much, and who has not. Anything short of full disclosure is unacceptable.
“It is wicked to declare a hospital complete when patients still die without beds. It is fraudulent to claim that classrooms have been built when children still study under trees. Every kobo must match visible results. No more paper projects. No more lies,” he warned.
The committee, he added, has demanded a verified spreadsheet from the Accountant-General to reconcile the government’s claims with contractors’ grievances.
“We are determined to expose any discrepancies. If ₦2.4tn has been released and contractors are still crying foul, something is very wrong, and we will get to the bottom of it,” Kalu vowed.
He assured Nigerians that the panel will not relent, announcing that another post-agreement review session has been fixed for October 5, 2025, where both government officials and contractors will speak on the level of progress.
The Speaker directed relevant ministries and the Accountant-General to appear before the committee to justify the funds.
Reps expressed deep unease that such large sums can be claimed without transparency, especially amid ongoing public criticism of government spending.
