Lawmakers Vow to Fast-Track Contractor Payments, Ensure Speedy Passage of 2026 Budget, Says Senator Lawan

In a clear sign of legislative support for President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, the former Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan, today, Thursday, November 13, 2025, promised that the National Assembly would intensify its efforts to ensure contractors are paid promptly and that the 2026 budget is swiftly passed.

Lawan made the crucial commitment during a special dinner and interactive session held in Abuja with contractors handling major federal projects across the country.

The influential lawmaker emphasized that the legislature recognizes the devastating impact of delayed payments on economic development, noting that they often result in project abandonment, inflation of contract costs, and general sluggishness in government service delivery.

“The National Assembly is unequivocally committed to helping the Executive arm to speed up payments to contractors across all sectors. Our goal is to ensure that every ongoing federal project under the 2025 budget is completed on time,” Lawan stated.

Focus on Budget Acceleration

Beyond the immediate goal of clearing contractor arrears, Lawan also promised a renewed legislative drive to ensure stability in the budget cycle.

“We will work diligently to ensure the swift and thorough passage of the 2026 Appropriation Bill as soon as it is presented by the President,” he affirmed. The goal is to sustain the return to the January-to-December budget cycle, which is deemed essential for economic planning and consistency.

Lawan stressed that the immediate priority of the government should be the completion of projects already awarded rather than embarking on too many new ones. This strategy, he argued, ensures that the public receives tangible value for the substantial funds already committed to ongoing works, thereby boosting public confidence and ensuring job creation through sustained economic activity.

His statement confirms a proactive stance by the National Assembly to leverage its oversight and appropriation powers to improve the execution of the national budget and accelerate economic recovery.