The House of Representatives has suspended plenary for one week following a large-scale protest by local contractors who blocked the entrances to the National Assembly Complex over alleged non-payment for projects completed under the 2024 budget.
The demonstration, which began early Tuesday morning, brought traffic in central Abuja to a standstill and disrupted legislative business, forcing lawmakers to adjourn all sittings until next Tuesday.
The suspension will allow the House leadership to engage with the executive arm of government and ensure that contractors receive the payments they have been demanding for months.
Lawmakers Respond to Contractors’ Plight
The decision came after Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), moved a motion of urgent national importance, highlighting what he described as the “dire plight” of local contractors.
“You recall that our local contractors, our brothers and sisters, besieged the National Assembly today, protesting that they have not been paid for jobs completed under the 2024 budget,” Chinda stated during plenary. “This non-payment has caused untold hardship to our people, and it is our duty as a Parliament to take a stand.”
Chinda further noted that the protests resulted from the Federal Government’s failure to implement earlier directives from President Bola Tinubu, instructing the Ministers of Finance and Budget to release funds for completed projects.
Seven-Day Ultimatum Issued
In a strong show of bipartisan support, the House resolved to give the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and the Accountant-General of the Federation seven days to settle all outstanding payments owed to the protesting contractors.
Lawmakers also demanded full commencement of the 2025 budget implementation.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, presiding over the session, put the motion to a voice vote, which was unanimously approved by members across party lines.
Plenary Suspended to Allow Executive Action
Shortly after, Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu Mai-Palace (APC, Zamfara) moved a follow-up motion urging the House to suspend plenary for one week, giving the executive sufficient time to act on the ultimatum.
“Mr Speaker, the urgency and sensitivity of this matter demand that we suspend our sittings for one week so that the leadership can engage the executive to find a lasting solution,” Mai-Palace argued.
Supporting the motion, Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, noted that access to the National Assembly had been significantly blocked by the protest. “Members were delayed today due to road blockages caused by protesters. It is practical to step back and allow the executive to act,” he said.
Following unanimous approval, Deputy Speaker Kalu confirmed that all plenary sessions would be suspended until next Tuesday, pending consultations between the House leadership and the executive arm. The leadership was also mandated to ensure strict compliance with the resolution and report back within the week, with a warning that “further drastic legislative action” would be taken if the executive fails to meet the deadline.
Protest Highlights Contractors’ Frustration
The protest, attended by scores of indigenous contractors, saw demonstrators carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding payment for billions of naira worth of completed projects under the 2024 fiscal year.
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Security operatives, including the police and civil defence, were deployed to manage the crowd as lawmakers struggled to gain access to the National Assembly.
The week-long suspension reflects growing frustration among lawmakers and contractors alike over delayed payments and stalled budget implementation, highlighting the urgent need for the executive branch to fulfill financial obligations to local contractors.
