Local debts: Indigenous contractors bickers over non release of funds for executed projects

Contractors that handled various jobs in the Ministry of Special Duties since 2019 have accused the two Ministries of Finance and Special Duties of unnecessarily delaying payments to the beneficiaries running into millions of naira even after accessing funds.

This ugly development has crippled the activities of many contractors who borrowed from banks and financial institutions to execute those projects.

The contractors have engaged in series of supplies and services to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government which spanned for many years.

The trapped funds by Ministry of Special Duties for over two years had led to insolvent of most of the contractors, deaths and sicknesses of the contractors.

This is happening at a time the federal government is offsetting both domestic and international debts servicing year in year out.

Some contractors interviewed but preferred anonimity wondered why the current Minister of special Duties, Senator George Akume is delaying the release of funds when it had being made available by the federal government.

They said for a top political office holder eyeing to become APC National Chairman, yet performing below expectations fell short of his status and desire of many Nigerians.

A contractor who felt devastated told CAPITAL POST Abuja on Sunday that the funds meant for offsetting the debts were in between the Ministry of Finance and Special Duties, wondering what the Minister of Finance and his Special Duties counterpart stands to benefit by deliberately punishing contractor.

“As I speak, the fund meant for us has been between the Ministry of Finance and Special Duties.

“Why must contactors be punished for executed contracts and do the two ministers stand to benefit?”

However, it is also an appeal to the two critical Ministries to pay up the outstanding debts that had traumatized the activities of legitimate contractors in the last two years.