Reps ask FG to pay over N4trn owed local contractors

bemoan extortion of job seekers by agencies, recruitment firms

The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged Federal Government to immediately pay the over N4 trillion debt owed local contractors.

The lawmakers, who adopted the motion sponsored by Chike Okafor

(APC-Imo), expressed concerns over the huge debt burden on the Federal Government and its agencies, noting that the unpaid domestic debt was largely responsible for the high rate of non-performing loans of commercial banks in the country.

Okafor, who called for the intervention of the House, bemoaned the lackadaisical attitude of Federal Government and various MDAs to pay for contracts duly executed with certificates of completion issued to the contractors.

The lawmaker, who expressed regret over the untold hardships being experienced by the affected contractors as a result of the loans obtained from commercial banks at high interest rates, argued that “the contracts were duly awarded after passing through budgetary process and monies for their execution appropriated for the fiscal years in question.”

To this end, the House mandated the Joint Committee on Works, Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Finance and Appropriations (when constituted) to investigate the N4 trillion debts owed contractors and report back to the House within three weeks.

Also at plenary, the House also urged Federal Government to stop the fraudulent extortion of employment seekers by various federal agencies and recruitment firms across the country.

The resolution was passed following the adoption of the motion sponsored by Joseph Edionwele (PDP-Edo), who expressed concern over the fate of unemployed youths who have become prey to unscrupulous recruitment agencies, firms and organisations which exploit those unwary and desperate Nigerians.

The lawmaker, who lamented the high graduate unemployment rate in the country, stressed the need for the House to prevail on Federal Government to henceforth stop the fraudulent practice.

To this end, the House urged Federal Government to stop using consultants for recruitment exercises by government agencies and parastatals and urged the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity (when constituted) to monitor the development and report back to the House on the extent of compliance.