FG Directs Nigerian Ministries, Agencies To Halt Payments For Constituency Projects, New Contracts Also Suspended – Report

The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately stop processing payments for constituency and zonal intervention projects unless they first obtain a Certificate of Verification and Compliance from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs (FMSDIGA).

This is according to a confidential Treasury circular exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday.

The directive, issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), has triggered fresh concerns over the implementation of the 2026 Appropriation Act, with a senior government insider alleging that ministries and agencies have also been quietly instructed not to award new contracts tied to projects captured in the budget.

The Federal Treasury Circular, dated June 29, 2026, and signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of federal agencies, service chiefs, anti-corruption agencies, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other top government officials.

In the circular, the OAGF expressed concern over what it described as inconsistent compliance with an earlier directive issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) on September 20, 2023, governing the implementation of Zonal Intervention and Constituency Projects.

The Accountant-General said the lack of compliance had undermined accountability, transparency and proper reporting in the execution of constituency projects.

“The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation wishes to further reiterate the provisions of the above-referenced Circular to ensure full compliance by all implementing MDAs, to strengthen accountability, transparency and effective delivery of Zonal Intervention/Constituency Projects and Programmes across the Federation,” the circular stated.

It further reminded all implementing agencies that the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs has the statutory responsibility to verify and certify all constituency and zonal intervention projects before implementation.

The circular directed accounting officers, directors of finance and internal auditors across federal institutions not to process or upload any payment request relating to constituency projects without obtaining a Certificate of Verification and Compliance from the ministry.

“With effect from the date of this circular no payment is processed or uploaded on the payment platforms without a Certificate of Verification/Compliance issued by FMSDIGA in relation to all payment requests on ZIP/CP projects,” the directive stated.

However, a senior government official familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that the implications of the directive extend beyond payment approvals.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, the source alleged that ministries and agencies had also been informally instructed to suspend the award of fresh contracts linked to projects contained in the 2026 budget.

According to the source, the quiet directive could affect the execution of numerous constituency projects approved by the National Assembly.

“”No, the agencies like, you know all these agencies and ministries they normally award jobs now,” the source revealed.

“They called them and said they should not award any new jobs. So, all that 2026, most of the jobs that were approved in the budget will not be awarded,” the source alleged.

The official questioned what would become of funds already appropriated by the National Assembly if projects were not implementeD

“The question is, what will they do with the budget? Nigeria passed a budget of how many trillions? For Nigerians, they have seen that we approved trillions, but then they have gone behind quietly to instruct ministries and agencies not to award contracts.

“So, the bigger question is, who then will do the job? What will happen to Nigeria’s 2026 budget? Will they just pocket the money?” the source questioned.

While SaharaReporters could not independently ascertain the claims, the circular itself specifically addresses payment processing and requires a verification certificate before any payments relating to constituency or zonal intervention projects can be made.

Constituency and zonal intervention projects, which are nominated by members of the National Assembly but implemented by MDAs, have repeatedly attracted criticism over allegations of duplication, poor execution, abandoned projects and weak oversight.

The Federal Government has, in recent years, introduced several measures aimed at tightening monitoring and improving accountability in the execution of the projects, including assigning verification responsibilities to the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had not issued any public clarification beyond the contents of the June 29 Treasury circular, while the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs has not commented on the implementation of the directive.  (SaharaReporters)