By Felix Durumbah
The over two-year payment impasse between Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, and the Association of Indigenous Contractors of FCT, appears finally set for a happy ending.
The contractors had consistently stated that they are being owed over N5.2billion by the FCT Administration (FCTA) for public welfare jobs executed by them.
In the face of seeming unwillingness of the Minister to pay for the executed jobs citing alleged lack of transparency and need for accountability, the contractors took several steps to overturn what they described as an act of injustice.
They wrote several letters to the Minister, then embarked on numerous peaceful protests; undertook media consciousness activities; reported the debt matter to the National Assembly; were tear-gassed severally by the police; scrutinized by the Department of State Services (DSS) in a bid to get paid –all to no avail.
However, during another round of protests yesterday (Tuesday, 16 December) in front of the main gate of FCTA Secretariat, 1 Kapital Road, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Iya, invited the contractors to a meeting inside the Minister’s Office complex.
He told the contractors to select a four-person team to the meeting, which was scheduled for about 3pm.
Consequently, the contractors immediately arrived for the meeting with a team led by their Chairman, Mr Benson Ehuwa.
Apparently to underscore the Minister’s intention to pay, the FCTA Permanent Secretary in-charge of Treasury and Budget, Mr Adamu Ibrahim Wanki, was also summoned to the meeting.
In the course of talks, Iya informed the contractors that the Minister, who initiated the meeting in the first place, was prepared to settle the bills for all their contracts done from 2023 (when Wike became Minister) to date.
Therefore, he asked them to submit the bills to that end –an action the contractors promptly complied with.
Other matters were discussed at the parley, described by some participants, as done in an amicable atmosphere.
In the end, they agreed to meet again in a few days’ time.
At least one participant from both sides at the meeting confirmed the story to our reporter.
As the news of the move to pay their bills hit the large throng of contractors gathered outside the gate, there was a mix of jubilation and cautious optimism.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Wike.
