The House of Representatives has instructed the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Shamsuldeen Ogunjimi, to provide a detailed spreadsheet of payments made to contractors under the government’s N2.4 trillion project disbursement.
The directive followed confirmation from the Accountant-General’s office that the sum had been approved for project implementation.
A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, noted that lawmakers also emphasised the need for scrutiny to ensure that only legitimate and completed projects benefit from the funds.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the Ad hoc Committee on Budget Implementation, welcomed the government’s move but stressed accountability. He said a follow-up session has been scheduled for Oct. 5 to further review agreements between the government and contractors.
Kalu explained that from their intervention, 25 per cent of the agreed payments had been made within two weeks, leaving N160 billion outstanding from the approved N2.4 trillion.
He commended the government’s approval of the payments despite economic constraints, describing it as evidence of a responsive administration.
According to him, the contractors left the meeting reassured that steps were underway to resolve their concerns.
(NAN)