Agbese Lauds Speaker, Kalu’s c'ttee for Resolving FG-Contractors’ Standoff
- Deputy Spokesperson Philip Agbese commended Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for swiftly resolving the impasse between FG and indigenous contractors
- Kalu-led committee convened a meeting with the Finance Minister, Accountant-General, and 100 contractors, securing agreement and initiating payments from 8 September 2025
- Agbese praised the House’s responsive leadership, highlighting past strategic interventions and urging continued trust in the government to deliver on 2024–2025 budgets
The Deputy Spokesperson of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Hon. Chief Philip Agbese, has praised the Speaker, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Dr. Benjamin Kalu, for promptly resolving the lingering impasse between the federal government and indigenous contractors.
Earlier this week, the Speaker, through his Chief of Staff, Prof. Jakes Dan Azumi, announced the formation of two ad-hoc committees.
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The committees, headed by Deputy Speaker Kalu and his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, were tasked with investigating complaints about non-funding of constituency projects and alleged lopsided recruitment into the National Assembly bureaucracy, respectively.
Barely 24 hours after the announcement, Kalu convened an expanded meeting with the Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Wale Edu; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Samsudeen Babatunde Ogunjimi; and about 100 indigenous contractors nationwide. His intervention reportedly ended the standoff, with payments to contractors set to begin on Monday, 8 September 2025.
Agbese commends prompt action
In a statement cited by Legit,ng, on Friday, September 5, Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue state, acknowledged the swift action of the Kalu-led committee in addressing the contractors’ long-standing grievances.
“This swift intervention by His Excellency, Kalu-led Committee, has greatly solved more than half of Nigerians’ problem. You know a hungry man is an angry man. And it is when a man is hungry that he would appreciate a plate of food. These contractors have been agitating, and now succour has come their way, as they will be smiling to the banks from Monday next week,” Agbese said.
He further described the leadership of the House as responsive and responsible, stating:
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“This is what only responsible and responsive leadership can give. We must give it to the Speaker and his Deputy! This is one of the reasons why the entire 358 Members of the House will continue to support them until the end of the 10th House term.”
House leadership praised for strategic roles
Agbese also highlighted the House’s strategic interventions in previous disputes, including averting industrial strikes between the federal government and ASUU, resolving conflicts with the NLC, and addressing grievances of youths.
“What that tells us is that, with Tajudeen Abbas heading a strategic arm of government as Speaker, the President can rest assured, as can the youths and other stakeholders, that the government will protect and serve their interests, irrespective of the hour,” he added.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that the resolution would bring relief to the contractors, many of whom support families and dependents. He urged the contractors and the public to continue trusting the leadership of the House and the executive to deliver on the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
Source: Legit.ng
