Reps question AGF over N2.4tn disbursed to contractors

The House of Representatives on Monday directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to furnish the legislature with a detailed breakdown of the N2.4tn recently disbursed by the Federal Government to contractors handling projects nationwide.

The resolution followed confirmation by officials from the Office of the Accountant-General that disbursements totalling N2.4tn had already been released to various contractors executing projects for the Federal Government.

Lawmakers, however, raised concerns that the huge expenditure had not translated into visible results on the ground, warning contractors against the fraudulent practice of brandishing certificates of completion for projects that exist only on paper.

The Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Budget Implementation, Benjamin Kalu, issued the warning after a heated session with leaders of the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria.

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“When contractors blocked the Finance Ministry, the House intervened to restore order. We calmed the crisis through legislative diplomacy. But let it be clear: we are not here to defend phantom claims or rubber-stamp corruption; N2.4tn is not pocket change. Nigerians must see real projects for this kind of money,” Kalu said.

He continued: “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.”

The intervention by the House comes barely a week after lawmakers waded into the crisis triggered by contractors who barricaded the Ministry of Finance in protest over unpaid arrears.

Responding at the time, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, directed Kalu to lead a special committee to intervene in the deadlock and restore calm. The committee’s first sitting on September 4, 2025, secured the government’s commitment to release 25 per cent of the debt, with another review fixed for September 21.

On Sunday, the Office of the Accountant-General disclosed that ₦2.4tn had now been disbursed, leaving about ₦160bn in outstanding debt. The Accountant-General further revealed that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, had approved another ₦760bn in warrants and cash backing, bringing the government’s total financial commitment to contractors to about ₦3.1tn.

Addressing journalists after Monday’s session, Kalu welcomed the government’s efforts but stressed that both the Office of the Accountant-General and the contractors remain under legislative scrutiny.

“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.

According to him, the ad hoc committee has now demanded a verified spreadsheet from the Accountant-General to reconcile the government’s claims with the contractors’ grievances.

“We are determined to expose any discrepancies. 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,” Kalu vowed.

He assured Nigerians that the panel will not relent in its oversight responsibility, announcing that another post-agreement review session has been fixed for October 5, 2025, at which government officials and contractors are expected to provide fresh updates on progress made.