The House of Representatives has suspended plenary for one week following a protest by local contractors who barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly Complex, on Tuesday, over non-payment for projects executed since 2024.

Daily Trust reports that indigenous contractors besieged entrance of the National Assembly to protest the alleged failure of the federal government to pay their contracts’ fees.

The lawmakers said the decision to suspend plenary was in view of the difficulty they faced in assessing the National Assembly Complex as a result of the contractors’ vow to continue their actions for the next one week.

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Besides, the House also said the suspension of plenary would allow the House leadership to use the period to interface with the executive arm and ensure the local contractors are paid to avoid disruption of activities of the National Assembly.

The decisions followed a motion of urgent national importance by the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, who drew attention to the “dire plight” of contractors.

Moving the motion under matters of urgent national importance, the Minority Leader said the protest, which has disrupted access to the National Assembly, stemmed from the government’s failure to implement directives by President Bola Tinubu that the Ministers of Finance and Budget immediately pay local contractors.

He said, “You recall that our local contractors; our brothers and sisters, besieged the National Assembly today, protesting that they have not been paid for jobs completed under the 2024 budget.

“This non-payment has caused untold hardship to our people, and it is our duty as a Parliament to take a stand.”

The House subsequently resolved to give the Ministers of Finance, Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu and the Accountant-General of the Federation seven days to settle all outstanding payments to the contractors and fully commence implementation of the 2025 budget.

The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who presided the session, put the motion to vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.

However, drama unfolded when Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu Mai-Palace (Zamfara State) moved a follow-up motion urging the House to adjourn plenary sessions for one week until the executive responds to the ultimatum.

“Mr. Speaker, the urgency and sensitivity of this matter demand that we suspend our sittings for one week so that the leadership can engage the executive to find a lasting solution,” he said.

Supporting the motion, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive explained that the decision was practical since the protesting contractors had vowed to continue their demonstrations for a week, making access to the Assembly complex difficult.

“Members came late today because the roads were blocked by the protesters. It’s sensible to step back and allow the executive to act,” the chairman said.

Following unanimous approval by voice vote, Kalu ruled that the House would adjourn all plenary activities until next Tuesday, pending the outcome of consultations between the leadership and the executive arm.

The House also mandated its leadership to ensure strict compliance with the resolution and report back within one week for “further drastic legislative action” should the executive fail to act.