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Reps suspend plenary as indigenous contractors protest, block National Assembly, demanding unpaid debts from 2024 and 2025 projects
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House gives seven-day ultimatum to Federal Government to settle verified payments
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Plenary adjourned; leadership tasked to engage Executive for resolution
The House of Representatives on Tuesday suspended plenary for one week following a protest by indigenous contractors at the National Assembly over unpaid debts.
The contractors, who executed projects under the 2024 and 2025 budgets, barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly, delaying access and preventing lawmakers from commencing plenary.
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The motion for suspension was moved by Kabiru Maipalace (APC, Zamfara), who urged the House to pause sittings until the Federal Government settled outstanding payments to local contractors.
During the session, the Minority Leader said: “Contractors—our brothers and sisters—are at the gate protesting that they have not been paid for jobs executed since 2024. We have engaged the Executive multiple times, but the promises made have not been kept.”
He added that the non-payment had worsened economic hardship, increased poverty, and heightened public tension nationwide.
READ ALSO: Reps Suspend Plenary as Contractors Protest Over Unpaid Projects
The House issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation, demanding that all verified debts be settled and that the 2025 budget implementation commence in full.
Maipalace then moved a motion to adjourn plenary for one week until updates on the payment directive were received. Supporting the motion, Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, said: “During this one week, the contractors have vowed to continue their protest and make this place inaccessible. It is only reasonable for us to step aside and allow the Executive to act.”
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu asked: “So, you’re saying members arrived late today because the road was blocked by contractors, and you don’t want a repeat next week?”
Waive replied, “Definitely, Mr Speaker.”
The House unanimously adopted the motion, stepped down all items on Tuesday’s Order Paper, and adjourned plenary until next week. Leadership was instructed to engage the Executive to ensure immediate resolution of the payment issue.
