FG Contractors Renew Protests Over Unpaid N500bn Debt, Block Finance Ministry

Local contractors under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria on Tuesday returned to the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, blocking both entrances as they intensified their demand for the payment of over N500bn owed for completed government projects. The demonstration brought activities at the ministry to a halt, leaving staff and visitors stranded as the contractors insisted they would not leave until they received their long-awaited payments.

Led by the association’s National Secretary, Babatunde Seun-Oyeniyi, the protesters accused the Federal Government of shifting its stance repeatedly despite earlier commitments to settle the debts. Oyeniyi told journalists that the contractors had participated in multiple meetings and received several assurances, including interventions from the National Assembly, but no payment had been made. “We have come here more than six times. Last week, we even stayed throughout the night before the Minister of Finance came,” he lamented.

The contractors expressed frustration that despite assurances from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, no funds had been released. Oyeniyi claimed that the minister had previously indicated that at least N150bn was available for partial payments but offered no explanation for the continued delays. While some payment warrants had been sighted, he said, they had not been “cashed back,” leaving contractors stranded financially and unable to service bank loans.

According to the association, the government appears to be attempting to push the payments into the 2026 fiscal year, a move they strongly oppose. Many protesters carried placards with messages such as “Banks no longer have confidence in sponsoring government projects” and “You are killing small businesses, pay what you owe,” highlighting the dire financial impact of the delays. Some also claimed that several contractors had died by suicide due to mounting debt pressures.

Tension between the contractors and the Federal Government has escalated over recent months. In November, contractors stormed the National Assembly Complex, prompting the House of Representatives to suspend plenary for one week. As of Tuesday evening, the Finance Ministry had yet to issue a formal response to the renewed protest, leaving the contractors’ demands unresolved and the standoff ongoing.

source: punch