The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government for failing to pay local contractors, despite President Bola Tinubu’s public claim that Nigeria has “met and surpassed” its revenue target for the year.
In a statement titled “Let Our SMEs Breathe” and posted on X on Thursday, the former Anambra State governor expressed concern over reports and images of contractors staging protests in Abuja and other parts of the country over unpaid bills for completed projects.
Obi noted that many of the affected contractors are small and medium-sized enterprises that play vital roles in local economies and depend on timely government payments to remain in business.
He faulted the government for boasting about increased revenue while allegedly neglecting basic financial obligations, describing the situation as a “contradiction” that exposes deeper issues in public finance management and transparency.
He stated, “In recent days, we have seen worrying images and reports of local contractors protesting across Abuja and other parts of the country, demanding payment for work they have already completed.
“Most of these contractors are small and medium-sized businesses that are crucial to economic activities in various regions. They are ordinary Nigerians who have delivered essential public services with the expectation that the government would honour its commitments.
“What is even more troubling is that this situation arises after President Tinubu publicly announced in August that Nigeria had ‘met and surpassed its revenue target for the year.’
“With such an impressive claim, one would expect increased investment in the economy—particularly in education, healthcare, and programmes aimed at reducing poverty. Yet the government has still failed to pay contractors.
“A responsible government cannot claim record revenue while leaving thousands of contractors unpaid. This contradiction reveals deeper problems surrounding transparency, accountability, and governance in public finance management.
“When a government fails to pay contractors, the effects ripple across the economy. Small and medium-sized businesses shut down, workers lose their jobs, families suffer hardship, and the nation’s productivity declines.
“We cannot build a strong economy where public funds are mismanaged, obligations are ignored, and local businesses are treated as disposable. If revenue has indeed increased, it should be evident in timely payments, the growth of MSMEs, and reduced borrowing.
“Meeting our obligations to contractors is not optional; it is a test of honesty, competence, and true leadership. A government that cannot honour its commitments cannot be trusted to build a nation.
“As leaders, we must fulfil our obligations, manage resources responsibly, and create an economy that works for the people. This is how a nation rises,” he concluded.