The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu for the payment of completed 2,024 capital projects worth over ₦4 trillion.
The contractors said thousands of their members across the country are being pushed into debt, sickness, and financial ruin as a result of the non – payment of their outstanding balance.
Speaking during a protest in Abuja on Wednesday, the association’s President, Jackson Nwosu, said despite government claims that payments for the 2024 capital projects had been made, less than one per cent of indigenous contractors had received funds.
He said, “They have been owing us since last year for over 2,024 capital projects.
“Out of more than 15,000 contractors, they have only paid about seven. Yet, they go around claiming that all payments have been settled. That is a lie. If they had paid us, we would not be on the streets.”
Nwosu lamented that many of their members had died waiting for payment, while others struggled to pay school fees and settle debts with banks.
“We are dying. Financial institutions are on our necks every day because the government claims to have paid us, but they haven’t. We will remain on the streets until every last contractor is paid,” he said.
The group alleged that ministries and agencies had stopped forwarding approvals to the Federal Ministry of Finance due to a funding freeze, worsening the backlog.
National Secretary of the association, Babatunde Seun accused some government officials of insincerity and selective payment.
He said contractors had fulfilled their obligations by completing projects but were left stranded because warrants issued for February and March were not backed by cash.
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Seun said, “They always pay just one or two people and leave the rest. We met with the Finance Minister and the Accountant-General, who assured us of payments within 48 hours. But nothing has happened. Some of us have lost our cars and properties to banks. We cannot even pay workers or our children’s school fees.”
Seun appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to intervene personally.
“He was once a contractor and understands this struggle. If he instructs the Finance Minister to pay today, the money will be released,” he said.
A member of the association, Davison Ahamefule said he executed a government contract in 2011 and received only half payment two years later.
“They verified the project, but since then nothing has been paid. The interest rates from banks have swallowed everything. I am pleading with the government to pay us,” he said.