By Nchetachi Chukuwajah
The House of Representatives has suspended plenary for one week following a protest by indigenous contractors at the National Assembly on Tuesday, November 4.
The Rep’s decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Kabiru Maipalace, urging lawmakers to suspend sittings until the Federal Government fulfils its pledge to settle outstanding payments for contracts executed under the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
Some contractors had stormed and barricaded the entrance of the National Assembly earlier on Tuesday over unpaid debts for executed projects, insisting on sustaining their protest for seven days until their demands were met.
The protest and blockade disrupted access to the National Assembly and caused a delay of Tuesday’s plenary.
During plenary, members unanimously turned down four urgent motions before Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, and called for an emergency closed-door meeting to address the escalating situation.
After the executive session, the Minority Leader noted the government’s failure to implement the 2024–2025 budgets and its adverse impact on the economy.
He also stated that despite several meetings with the Ministers of Finance and Budget, as well as assurances from President Bola Tinubu, the contractors remained unpaid.
“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 said.
Following deliberations, the House issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation to settle all verified debts owed to local contractors and ensure full commencement of the 2025 budget implementation.
Maipalace thereafter moved a motion for an immediate adjournment of plenary for one week, adding that the House should reconvene only after receiving updates on the payment directive.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, also lent support to the motion, saying it is to allow the Executive to act.
He 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.”
The House unanimously adopted the motion, stepped down all items on Tuesday’s Order Paper, and adjourned plenary until next week.
The leadership was also mandated to engage with the Executive to ensure immediate resolution of the payment issue.
