Local contractors on Monday protested at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to demand the payment of over N5.2 billion, which they claimed they were owed.
Their spokesman, Adebola Benson, appealed to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, to urgently defray the outstanding liabilities, as the contractors would continue to stage the protest until their grouse was addressed.
Benson said, “So far, the liabilities calculated is in billions, over N5.2 billion is owed to different contractors over time. “Some of the debts accrued from the last minister’s time before Wike came and he, too, has incurred some debts.”
He accused the incumbent minister of ignoring the debt since he assumed office, unlike the former minister, Mohammed Bello, who was making efforts to redeem part of the debt.
Benson stated, “The previous minister used to pay a piece meal and left some unpaid. When Wike came, we complained, he paid a bit and stopped since then. We are appealing to him to, please, pay us.”
Reacting to the protest, Senior Special Assistant (Public Communications and Social Media) to the FCT minister, Lere Olayinka, insisted Wike did not award N5 billion contract to local contractors.
Olayinka said, “No contract was awarded to any of the local contractors by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. If they have documents showing award of contracts by the minister, they should produce them.
“In December 2023, a bill of about N10 billion was presented to the minister as outstanding payment on jobs done by local contractors before he assumed office, they called it ‘Shopping’ or ‘Minor Procurement’.
“The same December 2023, payment of over N5 billion was approved by the minister and this was made immediately.”
He disclosed that in January 2024, another N5 billion was paid, clearing the over N10 billion outstanding bills, adding that three months after, another bill of over N15 billion was presented as outstanding payment on this same minor procurement.
Olayinka stated, “Then, the minister raised questions as to who approved the contracts, because he didn’t award such contracts.
“How can you claim to have carried out jobs worth over N15 billion within three months, without the approval of the minister? How can you accumulate over N15 billion debt on contracts within three months?”
Olawale Ajimotokan
Follow us on:
