President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been commended for paying power distribution companies legacy debts totalling about N3.3 trillion, stating the need to also pay local contractors who carried out jobs during his administration.

In a media statement on Sunday, the consultant, Abubakar Yusuf, opined that lack of payment of legitimate monies to local contractors has denied them and their families celebration of both Christmas and New Year Yuletide, Sallah and Easter Celebrations which led to also the death of many of them.

While pleading with the President, he urged him to show compassion and encourage local contractors as extended to expatriates who did not complain of payment since the inception of the present administration to allow continuous patronage.

He stated that lack of payment since 2024 will obviously discourage them from continuing to patronize government activities going forward.

“To worsen the whole situation, some if not most of the local contractors borrowed to execute legitimate projects from 2024 till date from banks and other financial institutions, after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in 2023,” Yusuf said.

The contractors, according to the consultant, invested all their monies into supplies and construction of capital projects of Federal Government, thinking they can always be paid like during former President Muhammadu Buhari.

While expressing confidence in the present administration and promises, the consultant said with the experience, the local contractors are still ready to continue to patronize government activities going forward, pleading for urgent payments.

"Even if it means bailing out the local contractors to ensure payment, it will also add to the leadership qualities and attention to the ordinary Nigerians, by the President,” Yusuf said.

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