By Local contractors under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria on Wednesday took to the streets of Abuja to protest at the Ministry of Finance headquarters over unpaid arrears for capital projects executed in 2024, estimated at about N4 trillion.
The protesters, who blocked the ministry’s entrance, stopped staff and even the convoy of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, from entering the premises.
Secretary of the Association, Babatunde Seun, said contractors had repeatedly engaged the Minister and the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, who both promised payments within 48 hours. He claimed, however, that only five of the association’s 5,000 members had received any payment.
“They keep making promises they cannot keep,” Seun said. “We have completed and handed over our projects with certificates. Yet, the government continues to deceive us while our members sink into debt. Some cannot pay school fees, others cannot afford proper healthcare. We cannot take it any longer.”
He added that contractors would continue to occupy the ministry until all outstanding payments were cleared. “Until every member is paid, we will not leave the streets. If it takes us till December, we will remain here,” he vowed.
Placards carried by some protesters accused the National Assembly of looking away while contractors “suffer injustice over 2024 capital projects.”
The protest highlights growing anger over delayed payments, with contractors warning that government credibility and ongoing infrastructure delivery could be at risk if the matter is not resolved swiftly.
