- Safiu Kehinde
An Imo state lawmaker, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has demanded a thorough audit of the accounts of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo at the House of Representatives, said a proper audit would reveal “where the local contractors’ money is hidden.”
He made the call during a solidarity visit to members of the All Indigenous Local Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), who have been protesting over the Federal Government’s alleged N4 trillion indebtedness to them.
NPO Reported that the contractors, who began their protest on Tuesday, have blocked the entrance to the Ministry of Finance as well as parts of the adjoining road to press home their demand for payment.
Some of the protesters went as far as bringing a coffin with pictures of the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, pasted on it.
They however claimed the N4 trillion debt is for Federal Government projects executed in 2024, which the government has failed to pay for in spite “three consecutive promises.”
In his address, Ugochinyere said the Ministry of Finance and FIRS had not aligned with the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that an audit would provide clarity on the management of contractors’ payments.
He said the projects executed by the contractors were done in line with the Procurement Act, and that communities were already benefitting from them, including in his constituency.
“People are already enjoying the streetlights in my constituency as part of my campaign. I listened to them. The water borehole is already running in my constituency. The erosion control board is already running in my constituency.
“So, government is already enjoying it, these executed projects. Government signboard is there, and you can’t pay the contractor.
“And I must say this, maybe the President will hear me: there is no other way to renew hope than to pay local contractors who will now pay their suppliers.
“Those suppliers will go to market and buy something. There is no other way. There is no other way to renew hope. I will say this with all due respect: the finance minister and the FIRS man are not doing Mr President any good.
“As it is now, families cannot fulfil their obligations. Banks cannot get their money back. Some of these contractors took loans from the bank,” he said.
The lawmaker added that some contractors borrowed money using their cars as collateral.
He appealed to President Tinubu to urgently intervene and ensure that the contractors are paid “within a short period,” preferably through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
According to him, there is no need for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to inspect the projects before payment, since the jobs had been completed and uploaded as required.
“There was no need buying off time, that is nonsense. These jobs have been done already. I am pleading with Mr President to intervene for the payment of these contractors in the interest of national security; there is insecurity all over the land,” he added.
On his part, AICAN President, Mr Jackson Nwosu, said the association had earlier received assurances of support from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, but noted that the commitment did not follow through.
He said the situation was an injustice, saying people cannot work for government only to remain unpaid.
Nwosu vowed that the contractors would not allow the debt to be carried into 2026 and would continue their protest until the funds are released.