There was tension yesterday at the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, as protesting local contractors blocked the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, from gaining access to the complex.
The protesters, operating under the banner of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) shut the ministry gate to press home their demands over unpaid debts totaling about N4 trillion allegedly owed them by the Federal Government.
Trouble started when Uzoka-Anite arrived at the ministry and security operatives attempted to force a passage for her into the building. The move was stoutly resisted by the demonstrators, who insisted that no official would enter until their grievances were addressed.
The aggrieved contractors chanted slogans, including: “How many people government go kill ooo… how many people government go kill,” as the situation grew tense.
Amid the ensuing scuffle, a gunshot was reportedly fired as security personnel tried to disperse the crowd, further heightening anxiety around the premises.
The contractors accused the Federal Government of failing to pay for projects they had already executed, alleging that funds appropriated for the purpose in the 2024 and 2025 budgets had not been released.
They also recalled that similar protests were staged last year at both the National Assembly Complex and the Federal Ministry of Finance over the same issue.
Speaking with journalists during the protest at the Ministry of Finance, AICAN President, Mr. Jackson Nwosu, warned that the association might be forced to take drastic action if the outstanding payments were not settled.
Nwosu said the funds used to execute the 2024 capital projects were largely sourced from commercial banks, placing contractors under severe financial pressure.
According to him, only about 40 per cent of the outstanding amount was paid after the association’s protest in December 2025, adding that members would not vacate the ministry’s premises until the balance was released.
“We are talking about over ₦4 trillion in unpaid capital projects executed for the Federal Government in 2024. These projects have been completed, yet contractors are still unpaid.
“Our next line of action is that if they do not kill us, the economy of this country will die,” he said.
Nwosu explained that many contractors had defaulted on bank loans, leading to the seizure of properties, while some members had reportedly died as a result of the financial strain.
“Most of our members borrowed from banks to execute these projects and are now unable to repay. Some banks have seized their properties, and some contractors have even died.
“We are ready for the worst, but we will continue to be law-abiding and peaceful in our protest until every contractor is paid,” he added.
He accused the Federal Government of reneging on agreements reached with the association, noting that AICAN had submitted a list of contractors who had completed their projects, without any tangible outcome.
Nwosu also quoted the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, as promising that warrants would be released once the list of eligible contractors was provided, but said no payment had followed the submission. He further stated that members were yet to receive any payment alerts, in spite of President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the settlement of the debt.
Vice President of the association, Mr Ode Agada, appealed to the Federal Government to honour its agreement with the contractors.
Agada said indigenous contractors had contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth, describing their current treatment as unfortunate. “We have contributed to the growth of the economy of this country. We are indigenous people who supported the government, yet we are being treated this way,” he said.
He added that although President Tinubu had directed that contractors be paid, relevant authorities had yet to act on the directive.
Agada also called on the international community to intervene, describing the contractors’ situation as dire since June 2025.
In a related development, the FCT Chairman of Indigenous Contractors, Mr Adebola Benson, appealed to the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to clear outstanding payments owed to contractors in the territory.
Benson said many FCT contractors also relied on bank loans to execute projects and were now facing threats of arrest over unpaid debts.
He urged the minister to discount allegations that FCT administration civil servants executed the contracts.
In December 2025, President Bola Tinubu constituted a multi-ministerial committee to address the mounting debts owed to federal contractors, estimated at about N1.5 trillion. Members of the committee include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa and Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji.
A Senate committee had also invited Edun to explain the circumstances surrounding the prolonged delay in settling the contractors’ claims.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has earmarked N1.7 trillion in the 2026 Appropriation Bill to offset outstanding debts owed to contractors for capital projects executed in 2024.
Details of the proposed 2026 national budget indicate that the allocation falls under a line item titled “Provision for 2024 Outstanding Contractor’s Liabilities,” underscoring official acknowledgment of delayed payments following recent protests.
In addition, a separate sum of N100 billion has been budgeted under “Payment of Local Contractors’ Debts/Other Liabilities,” a provision expected to cover legacy debts, smaller contract claims, and other unsettled obligations from previous years.
Credit: The Sun