Contractors accuse govt of owing N16 billion for completed projects

dimeji akinloye

May 10, 2015 10:22 PM

The association said the state government owes its members N16 billion for completed projects, and after writing at least 30 letters requesting to be paid, they did not get a response.

Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Association of Indigenous Contractors in Kano state on Sunday, May 10, alleged that the state government is indebted to its members to the tune of N60 billion for completed projects.

Chairman of the association, Alhaji Auduwa Maitangaran, made the claim at a news conference in Kano.

He accused the present administration in the state of "deliberate refusal’’ to pay them, lamenting that the huge debt has crippled their businesses.

Maitangaran stated that many of the contractors are indebted to banks, which has been on them for the liquidation of the credit.

He disclosed that the association has written more than 30 letters to the government on the issue, without response.

According to him, at some point, the association wanted to take a legal action against the government because of the enormity of the debt but were discouraged due to some reasons.

He, however, expressed optimism that the incoming government in the state would check the contractors’ plight and pay them and "rescue us from difficulties’’.

Reacting to the allegation, the state governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, said he was not aware of the total debt but assured that whatever it is may be reduced before May 29.

Kwankwaso told journalists that the government is still executing projects and paying the contractors as the jobs are being completed.

He recalled that his administration inherited N77 billion debts when it took over in 2011.

dimeji akinloye