Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has commended the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for their prompt intervention in resolving the lingering face-off between the Federal Government and indigenous contractors.
Earlier in the week, Speaker Abbas, through his Chief of Staff, Prof. Jakes Dan Azumi, inaugurated two special ad-hoc committees, one led by Deputy Speaker Kalu to address complaints of non-funding of constituency projects by the executive, and another chaired by former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase to investigate alleged lopsided recruitment in the National Assembly bureaucracy.
Barely 24 hours after his appointment, Kalu convened an expanded meeting with the Minister of Finance, Dr. Wale Edun, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Samsudeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, and about 100 indigenous contractors from across the country. The meeting successfully brokered a resolution, paving the way for payments to contractors to commence on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Speaking with journalists on Friday, Hon. Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, described the intervention as a major relief for contractors and a demonstration of responsible leadership.
“This swift intervention by the Kalu-led committee has solved more than half of Nigerians’ problem. These contractors have been agitating for a long time, and now succour has come their way. From Monday, they will be smiling to the banks,” Agbese said.
He added that the action reflects the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives under Abbas to the welfare of Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Agbese further praised the House leadership for consistently mediating between government and stakeholders, citing past interventions in disputes involving ASUU, the NLC, and Nigerian youths.
“With Abbas as Speaker, the President can sleep with his eyes closed, knowing the interests of Nigerians are protected. This is responsible and responsive leadership,” he stated.
The lawmaker urged contractors and the general public to continue to trust the current leadership of both the House and the executive in delivering on the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
