Aggrieved Nigerian contractors are threatening a confrontation with the Federal Ministry of Works, accusing the ministry of willfully refusing to approve payment for completed jobs. The contractors issued a one-week ultimatum to the ministry, demanding immediate payment of their contract sums or face protests.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors during a news conference in Abuja, Vitalis Maduka accused the ministry of favoring foreign contractors by promptly paying them while deliberately delaying payment for local contractors. Maduka warned that if the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mahmuda Mamman, fails to address their demands, they will launch massive protests at various government offices.
This development comes shortly after the Governance Monitor Initiative (GMI), a civil society organization, called for the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary, accusing him of sabotaging the government’s efforts to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, the ministry responded that it won’t address unauthenticated allegations and requires proper documentation for consideration.
