The House of Representatives has suspended plenary for one week following a protest by indigenous contractors at the national assembly.
The house passed the resolution during Tuesday’s plenary
following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Kingsley Chinda, the minority
leader.
THE PROTEST
On Tuesday, indigenous contractors protested at the national
assembly over non-payment of executed projects, forcing security operatives to
close the main gate.
The development compelled staff and visitors to use the
secretary to the government of the federation’s entrance, resulting in heavy
traffic around the area.
The contractors have been staging protests for months at
various ministries, including the ministries of finance and works.
Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker, has held several meetings
with the contractors in an effort to resolve the matter.
During one of the sessions attended in-person, Wale Edun,
the minister of finance, promised to settle the contractors’ outstanding
payments.
THE MOTION
While moving the motion, Chinda said the contractors have
not been paid for the work completed in 2024.
Chinda said the house leadership met with President Bola
Tinubu, who instructed Edu to “immediately pay the local contractors”.
“The instruction was not implemented several weeks
thereafter,” he said.
Chinda said the non-payment of the local contractors has
caused “severe hardship” on them, increasing poverty in the country.
He prayed the house to give the federal government to seven
days to pay the contractors. The motion was unanimously adopted when Kalu
subjected it to a voice vote.
Following that, Kabiru Mai Palace, lawmaker representing
Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency of Zamfara, moved an amendment that the house
suspend plenary for one week to compel the government to pay the contractors.
Francis Waive, the chairman of the committee on rules and
business, seconded the motion, explaining that the national assembly had become
inaccessible because of the protest.
“So that we won’t be fighting at the gate to come in [to the
national assembly]. So it is sensible fo us to keep away and give the
government the time to do the needful,” he said.
Lawmakers voted in support of the motion and the house
subsequently adjourned plenary sessions for one week.
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