Hundreds of indigenous contractors, under the umbrella of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), on Wednesday stormed the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding payment for completed capital projects worth over N4 trillion.
The protesters alleged that government’s failure to clear the debt had plunged many contractors into financial distress, with some losing properties, while others struggled with debts, school fees, and medical bills.
AICAN President, Jackson Nwosu, accused the government of insincerity, insisting that contrary to claims that payments for 2024 capital projects had been released, less than one per cent of contractors had received funds.
“We are dying. Financial institutions are on our necks every day because the government claims to have paid us, but they haven’t. Out of over 15,000 contractors, only about seven have been paid,” Nwosu said.
The group also alleged that ministries and agencies had stopped forwarding approvals to the Ministry of Finance due to a funding freeze, worsening the backlog.
AICAN’s National Secretary, Babatunde Seun, said warrants issued earlier in the year were not backed with cash, accusing officials of selective payments.
He appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
“Some of us have lost our cars and properties to banks. If the President instructs the finance minister to pay today, the money will be released,” Seun said.
Another contractor, Davison Ahamefule, recounted that he executed a project as far back as 2011 but received only half payment in 2013, lamenting that accrued bank interest had eroded everything.
The contractors warned that while they had avoided litigation in hopes of an amicable resolution, they might be compelled to seek legal redress if the deadlock continues.