FG ready to offset debts owed contractors

The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has appealed to contractors to return to site with an assurance that payment of debts owed them would soon commence

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday during a meeting with twenty major construction companies among which were Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Arab Contractors, Dantata and Sawoe, Reynolds Construction, Stabilini, RCC, Gitto Construzioni and Setraco.

Fashola said that with the passage of the 2016 budget, he would ensure that the contractors were paid.

“When the debts are paid, workers who were laid off by the construction companies would be recalled to work as soon as possible.

“Very soon, in a matter of days, hopefully we will get some funding to disburse to you. What we hope to achieve is to hear from you what the problems are,” he said.

He added that the contractors have made a commitment to government to recall laid off workers in order to complete outstanding projects.

He assured that as soon as disbursements were made, his ministry would begin to offset debts owed contractors to ensure that they fully return to site and reengage their laid off workers.

“I have been to some roads, especially in the North Central and I will continue to do that across all your sites. I need you to also provide for us, information about the number of people you expect to employ in your various sites.

“I need to know the number of people you are likely to put back to work when you are paid because what we are likely to achieve here, as we go on this year, is to complete as many roads as possible as our money can allow.”

The contractors assured the minister that they would quickly return to site in anticipation of the promised payments and also reabsorb as many of the laid off workers as possible.