The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development faces the threat of a shut down by unpaid contractors who are being owed since 2018.
The angry contractors who last week gave the Ministry a 7-day ultimatum after their fifth protest say it is time to take further action.
The delay in paying the contractors that supplied different types of inputs and implements to farmers in 2018 has caused untold hardship not only to them and their families, but also impacted negatively on the effectiveness of farmers as the debt has affected other project deliveries in the Ministry.
At a time Nigeria is struggling to feed its citizens amidst Covid-19, recession, banditry and terrorist attacks the angry contractors are threatening to shut down and occupy the Ministry that is in charge of food production.
Blocking the entrance to the Minister’s office, the angry protesters with their placards, chanting “we want our money, pay us our money” insist that they have ran out of patience, and now its time for action.
Efforts by ait.live to talk to officials of the Ministry on the matter were not successful. However, a letter signed on behalf of the Minister was presented to the group, asking for more time and patience.
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The protesters who threatened to occupy the premises of the Agriculture Ministry from Wednesday should the government fail to pay them, lamented the adverse effect of the “continuous refusal” of the Ministry to pay them even after they had completed the jobs awarded to them.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
