Contractors handling federal projects across the country have accused the government of intentionally stalling work through funding delays.
They insist that the failure to disburse funds has forced them to abandon sites and incur massive losses.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors, Austin Emegwagwa revealed that the last payment was made in October 2024.
“The new payment method, called bottom-up, has not been implemented since November. Releases for the 2024 budget to MDAs are still below 50%,” he lamented.
Emegwagwa alleged that the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project was receiving special treatment, with contractors being paid in advance, while others faced financial difficulties.
“This is the longest delay since the start of this democratic dispensation,” he said, adding that the uncertainty casts doubt on the federal government’s ability to fund the 2025 budget.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and direct the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to ensure urgent payment, especially during Ramadan and Lent.
