Thousands of Workers To Lose Jobs As FG Refuses To Pay Contractors

The inability of contractors working for various ministries, departments and agencies of the Nigerian government to get their money long after completing projects might have brought about untold hardship and adverse effects in the life of workers working for these companies.

Fear of sack has gripped workers in the construction industry in Nigeria as many of the construction companies have started laying off their workers across the country.

Investigation revealed that some of these companies have been asking their workers to stay home pending the time they get their payments from the federal government.

Sources from one of the affected companies described the attitude of Bola Ahmed Tinubu -led federal government as very unfortunate, as the government failed to pay them after they have completed and delivered jobs.

It was gathered that the Federal Ministry of Finance under the leadership of the Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, has refused to pay them their money

“Our major problem now is the Ministry of Finance which has refused to pay the contractors. The problem started when the government centralized all payment in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

“We have been able to fulfill our own obligations in the contract processes only for the government to pay us our dues.

“We have lots of obligations to meet up with , most especially to our lending banks and staff salaries apart from other commitments.

“As major contributors to employers of labour in this country, there is no doubt that thousands of Nigeria will lose their jobs unless President Tinubu quickly intervenes because we have never had it so bad like this before,” the source said.

Investigation revealed that, leading in debts to contractors, are the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), Federal Ministry of Works and others.