THE House of Representatives has demanded answers from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) over the ₦2.4 trillion recently disbursed to contractors handling federal projects across the country, warning that Nigerians will no longer tolerate “phantom projects” and “paper-based completion certificates.”
News Point Nigeria reports that at a heated session on Monday, the Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Budget Implementation, Benjamin Kalu, ordered the Accountant-General, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to furnish lawmakers with a detailed, verifiable breakdown of all payments made to contractors.
The directive followed confirmation from OAGF officials that ₦2.4tn had been released to contractors, even as lawmakers lamented that the massive spending has not translated into visible development.
“When contractors blocked the Finance Ministry, the House intervened to restore order. But let it be clear: ₦2.4tn is not pocket change. Nigerians must see real projects for this kind of money,” Kalu declared.
The Deputy Speaker condemned fraudulent practices by contractors who allegedly parade certificates of completion for projects that do not exist.
“It is wicked to declare a hospital complete when patients still die without beds. It is fraudulent to claim 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 intervention by the House comes barely a week after contractors barricaded the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting unpaid arrears running into trillions of naira.
Responding, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed Kalu to lead a special ad hoc committee to mediate. At its first sitting on September 4, 2025, the committee secured a government commitment to release 25 per cent of the debt, with a follow-up review scheduled for September 21.
On Sunday, the Accountant-General’s office disclosed that ₦2.4tn had been paid, leaving about ₦160bn outstanding. It further revealed that Finance Minister Wale Edun had approved another ₦760bn in warrants and cash backing, bringing the government’s total financial commitment to contractors to ₦3.1tn.
Speaking to journalists after Monday’s session, Kalu acknowledged the government’s efforts but stressed that both OAGF and the contractors remain under close legislative watch.
“The 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,” he said.
The committee has now demanded a verified spreadsheet from the Accountant-General to reconcile government claims with contractors’ complaints.
Kalu vowed that the panel will expose discrepancies and hold all actors accountable.
“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,” he said.
The committee has fixed its next post-agreement review session for October 5, 2025, at which government officials and contractors are expected to provide fresh updates.