By Mercy Aikoye
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has successfully brokered a resolution to the standoff between the Federal Government and indigenous contractors of Nigeria.
The contractors had staged a protest in Abuja over unpaid debts. Kalu convened a meeting with the contractors, the Minister of Finance, and other top government officials to resolve the issue.
After a four-hour meeting, Kalu announced that all parties had resolved the issues. “We got the strategy in place, and we’re going to come back on the 21st of this month to review what we’ve done so far,” he said.
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, assured that payments would commence next week. “A timeline was put in place, and everyone accepted that there are steps that need to be taken,” he said.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, corroborated the Minister’s statement. “From Monday, payments will start dropping,” he said.
The leadership and membership of the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria expressed satisfaction with the resolutions reached. They commended Kalu for his intervention and pledged to discontinue the protest.
Kalu thanked the Speaker of the House and his colleagues for entrusting him with the responsibility. He also appreciated the humility and diligence of the government officials involved.
The resolution of the crisis is a testament to the effectiveness of dialogue in resolving disputes. Payments to contractors are expected to commence on Monday, bringing relief to the affected parties.
