The Senate has stepped up efforts to address the long-standing issue of unpaid debts owed to contractors by the Federal Government, constituting a six-member committee to engage the Ministry of Finance and obtain details of plans to clear outstanding obligations.
The upper legislative chamber also gave the panel a one-week deadline to submit its findings, including updates on government efforts to reimburse contractors for completed capital projects across the country.
The decision was announced on Tuesday by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary after lawmakers unanimously approved the proposal through a voice vote.
According to Akpabio, the committee will serve as a bridge between the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Finance to facilitate payments to contractors who have successfully executed government projects but are yet to receive compensation.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, was named head of the panel. Other members include Adetokunbo Abiru, Kawu Sumaila, Abubakar Sani Bello, Isah Jibrin and Abdullahi Yahaya.
The Senate President directed the committee to immediately begin consultations with officials of the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies involved in settling contractual liabilities.
He said the panel’s report must clearly outline the extent of the debts owed, actions already taken by the government to address the issue, and the prospects for prompt payment to affected contractors.
The Senate’s intervention comes amid growing concerns over the impact of delayed payments on contractors and the execution of critical infrastructure projects nationwide.
Many contractors handling federal projects have repeatedly complained that prolonged delays in receiving payments have disrupted operations, increased project costs and slowed the completion of vital public infrastructure.
By imposing a one-week deadline on the committee, lawmakers signalled their determination to gain clarity on the issue and ensure concrete steps are taken to resolve the backlog of outstanding payments.
Observers believe that the timely settlement of verified debts could provide much-needed relief to contractors, boost economic activity and accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects across the country.
The committee’s findings are expected to shape future legislative action as the Senate continues its oversight of government finances and capital project implementation.
With the countdown now underway, attention will be focused on the outcome of the committee’s engagement with the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Government’s strategy for settling debts owed to contractors nationwide.