Umahi’s comments on contractor payments were distorted, Finance Minister alone handles disbursements, Works Ministry says.

The Federal Ministry of Works has refuted media reports claiming that the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, promised that all local contractors would be paid by December 20, 2025.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed A. Ahmed, the ministry said the report misrepresented the minister’s remarks and clarified that Umahi does not speak for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who is solely responsible for contractor payments.

According to the ministry, Umahi only stated during an inspection of the three sections of the Mararaba–Keffi Expressway—one of the NNPC Tax Credit-funded projects now under the Works Ministry’s funding oversight—that verified certificates would be forwarded to the Finance Ministry for payment before December 20.

The statement explained: “The Minister of Works did not say that all local contractors will be paid by 20th December 2025. What he said was that, after verification by the ICPC, the Ministry—through the Ministry of Finance—will commence payment of all generated certificates before the 20th of December.”

It added that Umahi also appealed to contractors not to abandon project sites while the Federal Government continues efforts to settle verified inherited debts.

The ministry stressed that it is not empowered to set deadlines for contractor payments nor speak on behalf of the Finance Minister.

It urged media organisations to correct any misinformation regarding the minister’s comments. (Arise News)