FG Sets Up Regional Committees To Review N1.5trn Debt Owed Contractors

The Federal Government has set up six committees for each of the six geopolitical zones to review the N1.5 trillion debts owed contractors for road projects across the country.

A statement signed by Uchenna Orji, Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the Minister gave the hint during an in-house budget defence with directors in the ministry, in preparation for their presentation to the joint committees of the National Assembly.

Orji said the committees were mandated to review all debts of unpaid certified certificates generated before May 29, 2023, and from May 29, 2023, to date.

The committees will also review the approved and unapproved variation of prices and all augmentations that were approved or were yet to be approved and make recommendations to the Ministry’s management.

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“The Ministry has exposed these debts and all reviews in the Ministry to Mr. President’s economic team and also to the Federal Executive Committee on road sector funding.

“It is believed that the internal works through these constituted committees will help them to use external Consultants to reverify the works so that concrete decisions will be made to move the Ministry forward.

“Contractors who are being owed are requested to approach these committees with all documents to back up their claims from Tuesday 12th 2023 to Friday, 22nd of December 2023 from 9 am to 7 pm at the Honourable Minister’s Conference Room, 1st floor, Federal Ministry of Works Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja,” he said.

The Minister added that the road sector needed a different kind of attention beyond the 2024 budget envelope received by the Ministry.

“For a developing nation like Nigeria, road sector development is a catalyst for economic development.

“The road sector has the potential to improve the security sector, agricultural sector, trade and investment, health, education, and, in fact, every aspect of the development of every nation,” the statement added.