Construction firms and other essential service providers have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to order the Ministry of Finance to release funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), enable them to return to project sites across the country.
Acting under the auspices of Federation of Construction Industry, the contractors said that projects scattered across the country should not be allowed to stall due to non-release of budgetary allocation to facilitate the completion of the projects with few days to the expiration of the extended period for the implementation of the 2022 budget, the contractors
Yusuf Muhammad, in a statement said in Abuja on Tuesday that delay in the release of funds had grounded execution of most of the projects.
According to him, many of the projects may be stalled, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the Ministry of Finance to release funds in the absence of a minister.
He admitted that the governments in the country were currently facing challenges, saying “we appreciate some of the new economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu including the removal of subsidy’’.
“This is a step in the right direction, but we appeal that the government should look into our problem to enable us execute ongoing projects scattered across the country,” he said.
He assured that the group would resist confrontation with government at any level ‘’because we remain partners in progress.’’
Mr. Muhammad said that the association recognised the downturn in the nation’s economy and commended the government for its determination in addressing the situation.
“We will not fight the government or go to the streets with placards, because we remain partners in progress for the development of the country.
“We appreciate the fact that government is grappling with dwindling resources due to shortfall in oil proceeds.
He pledged that the construction sub-sector would continue to partner the government in efforts to develop and maintain infrastructure.