By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate on Tuesday stepped up pressure on the Federal Government to account for billions of naira owed to contractors across the country, giving the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies one week to provide details of efforts being made to settle outstanding contractual obligations.
To drive the process, the upper chamber constituted a six-member committee mandated to engage directly with the Ministry of Finance and obtain a comprehensive briefing on the status of unpaid debts owed to contractors who have executed federal projects.
The Senate also directed the committee to submit its findings within one week, signalling lawmakers’ determination to obtain clarity on the growing backlog of unpaid obligations and the government’s strategy for clearing them.
The resolution followed deliberations in plenary, during which senators expressed concern about the implications of delayed payments for infrastructure development, project execution, and economic activities across the country.
Announcing the decision, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee would serve as a liaison between the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Finance to facilitate engagements aimed at resolving the issue.
The panel is chaired by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East). Other members are Senators Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos East), Kawu Sumaila (APC, Kano South), Abubakar Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East) and Abdullahi Yahaya (APC, Kebbi Central).
Akpabio directed the committee to immediately commence consultations with officials of the Ministry of Finance and other agencies involved in the management and settlement of government financial obligations.
According to him, the committee’s report must provide a clear picture of the volume of outstanding debts, the measures already undertaken by the Federal Government to address the issue and the prospects for prompt payment of verified claims.
The Senate’s intervention comes amid growing concerns among contractors handling federal projects, many of whom have repeatedly complained about prolonged payment delays despite completing assigned jobs.
The contractors have argued that the situation has placed severe financial strain on their businesses, increased project costs, and slowed the execution of critical infrastructure projects across various sectors of the economy.
Over the years, unpaid contractual obligations have remained a recurring challenge in public project implementation, with contractors frequently citing delayed reimbursements as a major obstacle to efficient project delivery.
Lawmakers believe that obtaining an accurate assessment of the government’s liabilities is essential to addressing the problem and preventing further disruptions to ongoing and future projects.
The Senate’s action is expected to provide a clearer understanding of the Federal Government’s financial commitments and the mechanisms being considered to settle verified debts.
Observers say the prompt resolution of the issue could offer much-needed relief to contractors, many of whom have struggled with rising operational costs and constrained access to financing while awaiting payment for completed projects.
They also note that clearing outstanding obligations could stimulate economic activities, support job retention and accelerate the completion of critical infrastructure projects nationwide.
The Senate’s latest move further underscores its oversight role over public finances and implementation of capital projects, particularly at a time when the government is seeking to boost infrastructure development as a driver of economic growth.
With the one-week deadline now in effect, attention is expected to shift to the outcome of the committee’s engagement with the Ministry of Finance and the details of the Federal Government’s plan to address the long-standing issue of unpaid contractors’ debts.
The committee’s findings are expected to guide further legislative action and could shape future discussions on budget implementation, project financing, and the timely settlement of government obligations.
For contractors awaiting payment, the Senate’s intervention represents a renewed effort to secure answers on an issue that has lingered for years and continues to affect project delivery across the federation.
