Socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has advocated for the enactment of a law that would compel all levels of government in Nigeria to settle contractors’ invoices within 30 days of project completion or service delivery.

The proposal was contained in a post shared on Yesufu’s official social media page, where she argued that delayed payments to contractors have continued to affect businesses, infrastructure development and job creation across the country.

Yesufu suggested that any outstanding payment beyond 30 days should attract mandatory interest calculated at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria Monetary Policy Rate plus an additional five per cent.

“There is a need for a strong, enforceable law to be enacted that compels every tier of government to pay contractors all due invoices within 30 days, with mandatory interest on any delayed payment,” she stated.

She argued that many contractors complete projects only to face prolonged delays in receiving payment, a situation she said has pushed several businesses into financial difficulties.

“Contractors will deliver on their work only for governments to delay payments for months or years, pushing many businesses into distress and liquidation,” Yesufu said.

According to her, the proposed law would discourage the practice of using contractors as a source of unofficial credit for government projects.

“No more using contractors as unwilling bankers,” she added.

The activist further maintained that delayed payments to contractors remain a major challenge to economic growth, infrastructure delivery and employment generation in Nigeria.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has distanced himself from the series of protests that followed the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly primaries in Lagos, warning individuals against using his name to promote demonstrations or political agitation.

Obasa also rejected attempts to associate him with the growing wave of protests that have trailed the release of candidates’ lists for the party’s legislative primaries, describing efforts to hold him responsible as unfair and misleading.

His reaction comes after APC members from several local government areas, including Badagry, Mushin, Amuwo-Odofin, Eti-Osa, Somolu, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Oshodi-Isolo, staged a protest at the party’s secretariat on ACME Road in Ikeja on Tuesday, alleging irregularities in the conduct and outcome of the primaries.

The demonstration was the latest in a series of protests that have erupted across the state since the Lagos APC published the names of candidates said to have emerged from the primary elections.

Amid the controversy, messages circulated on WhatsApp alleging that Obasa had provided N2 billion to sponsor and coordinate the protests across different parts of the state.

Responding to the claims, the Speaker dismissed the allegations as false and unfounded, questioning the rationale behind linking him to the demonstrations.

“It is foolhardy, malicious, misleading and baseless for anybody to assume or imply that I will import or mobilise protesters from different local governments to the secretariat. To achieve what exactly?

“I am not a candidate in the disputed election, so why and how will I devote such an amount of money to organising protests?” he said.

Obasa further stressed that he remained committed to peace and unity within the APC, warning against attempts to drag his name into actions capable of creating division within the party.

“I am a peace-loving party man, and I abhor the use of my name and office for any form of illegality or to sow division within the party,” he added.

The Speaker reiterated his dedication to the stability and progress of the ruling party in Lagos, stating that his focus remains on promoting harmony and supporting the continued development of the state.

“My steadfast commitment remains the unity, peace, and progress of our great party and the people of Lagos State,” Obasa said.