ADC knocks FG over contractors, pensioners’ debt

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has berated the Federal Government over debts owed local contractors and pensioners across the country.

The party, in a statement by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday, said the debt is an indication that the  All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government is insensitive to the plight of ordinary citizens.

The opposition party said it was concerned by the plight of the local contractors, who have been camping at the Federal Ministry of Finance, “with coffins, demanding to be paid for the work they have done.”

The ADC noted it is  prepared to join protests by the local contractors if the government fails to address their concerns.

“We also stand in strong solidarity with pensioners who are now threatening to march naked in protest if the Federal Government fails to pay what it owes them in long arrears of pensions.

“No serious government allows things to deteriorate to the point where citizens must resort to coffins and naked protests before they are taken seriously.

“But this only further confirms that the APC government is insensitive and does not care about the damage that their actions or inactions do to the country’s image, and more importantly, to the livelihood of ordinary citizens.”

The party noted that it was troubling that the same government that has failed to pay the contractors and pensioners keeps boasting about meeting and surpassing revenue targets.

‘If our national finances are truly as strong as the government claims, why are contractors still owed over N500 billion for completed projects?

“Why are pensioners still waiting for increments and palliatives that were approved more than a year ago? You cannot claim revenue excellence while ordinary Nigerians are drowning in unpaid debts. Something is not adding up.

“And, instead of addressing this crisis, the APC-led government is busy distributing campaign vehicles, mobilising coordinators, and building structures for 2027. A government that cannot pay its own contractors and cannot honour its obligations to pensioners has absolutely no moral right to be campaigning for another term.

“We have taken note of the untold suffering and humiliation that both the contractors and the pensioners have had to endure. This has to end now. The ADC is therefore prepared to march in solidarity with them if the government refuses to act immediately to address their plight.

“ADC will continue to stand with all citizens who have been pushed into hardship by this APC-led federal government’s failures. Where this government destroys trust, we will rebuild it. Where they abandon their responsibilities, we will uphold them.”