Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan has assured that the National Assembly is taking steps to accelerate payments owed to contractors and ensure full implementation of ongoing constituency and capital projects across the country.
Speaking with State House correspondents after a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, Lawan said lawmakers are working to complete the necessary procedures for project execution amid growing concerns from contractors over delayed payments.
“The National Assembly is still working hard to ensure that the necessary steps, procedures, and processes are completed for constituency projects to be implemented,” Lawan said. “But we also care about the implementation of the total budget of the country, not just constituency projects.”
His comments come amid mounting pressure from contractors who recently protested unpaid arrears of over ₦4 trillion for certified 2024 capital projects. The Ministry of Works had earlier confirmed that about ₦1.5 trillion in verified debts on highway projects were pending clearance.
Lawan noted that the legislature is collaborating with the executive to address payment backlogs and improve budget execution, stressing that the administration’s economic reforms are beginning to yield stability and growth.
“Mr. President, in the last two years, has taken bold and courageous steps to reposition our economy and invest massively in the security sector,” Lawan said. “Our economy has stabilised, and we are heading in the right direction. What remains is to make sure that this growth is inclusive.”
He acknowledged the challenges in the security sector but expressed optimism that ongoing investments would lead to greater peace and safety.
The former Senate President also dismissed suggestions that lawmakers were acting out of self-interest, insisting that the legislature’s focus remains on equitable national development.
“We are not narrow-minded or parochial. We want the budget implemented fully across all parts of the country, whether for constituency projects or general budget provisions,” he said.
