Ugochinyere demands Edun’s sack over non-payment of local contractors

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, has called for the sack of the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, on the non-payment of local contractors for job done. 

Ugochinyere made the call, when he visited the Ministry of Finance, in solidarity with aggrieved local contractors, who have been protesting in front of the ministry over non payment for contracts executed for the federal government.

The contractors, under the aegis of “All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigerian,” have in their banner appealed to the National Assembly, not to fold their arms and watch them suffer injustice over unpaid 2024 capital projects.

The lawmaker noted that since the local contractors have executed their contracts, there is no reason for the government to delay their payment, stating that their families are going through hardship because of the contract debts.

According to him, “thes jobs were executed in line with the procurement act, and the government is already enjoying the benefit of those jobs. Like in my constituency, people are already enjoying the street light. It’s part of my campaign. The water borehole is already running in my constituency. The erosion control point is already running in my constituency. So the government is already enjoying it.

“Their signboard is there. And then you can’t pay the contractor. And I must say this, and I believe maybe the President will hear me..There’s no other way to renew hope than to pay contractors, local contractors, who will now pay their suppliers. And those suppliers will go to market and buy something. There is no other way.

“There is no other way to renew hope. And I will say this with all due respect, that the Finance Minister and the FIRS man are not doing Mr. President any good, because people are so angry.

“Families cannot fulfill their obligations. Banks cannot get their money back. Some of you took a loan from banks. And these banks do not want to hear that you are here protesting, that I didn’t do it for you. Some took money from friends. Some used their car to borrow money.

“It is so painful that in a government where we say we want to renew hope, we cannot pay thousands of contractors. And if the local contractors cannot be paid, I don’t think there is any reason why the finance minister should be in office.”