By Emmanuel Elebeke 

Members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), on Tuesday staged a protest at the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance, demanding the immediate payment of funds owed for 2024 capital projects.

The contractors, who claim they are owed over ₦3 trillion by the Federal Government, said they would not back down until every kobo is paid. The demonstration, led by the National President of the association, Jackson Ifeanyi Nwosu, drew attention to the growing financial strain facing local contractors across the country.

Speaking at the protest, Nwosu said many contractors are on the brink of collapse due to delayed payments, with some already experiencing business closures and property seizures.

“We have completed these projects in good faith, but the government has continued to delay payment. Our members are suffering. Some have lost their properties, while others have shut down their businesses entirely,” he said.

The protest comes despite assurances from the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, who reportedly promised that payments would be processed through the Remita platform within hours. 

“We have always been here,  to protest against the non-payment of these 2024 capital projects of the government completed by our members. We don’t know the reason for the delay, when the same government says there is a lot of money, we don’t know what they do with money. Since 2024 and 2025.

If by the end of the day nothing happens, we will continue the protest tomorrow, we are hoping to continue till Friday as they are doing APC Convention. 

All we want them to do is to commit to their promises, this government, they are used to promising and not doing what they promised the citizens, it is very wrong. We hear that they divert most of the funds they generate for re-election, which is very wrong.

A lot of our members’ property has been seized by banks, some have died, some are having over 3 billion naira with the government and can no longer continue their businesses, as little as 5 million naira debt has killed most of our members, due to the difficulties they pass through. We are owed over 3 trillion naira by this government.”

However,  contractors expressed skepticism over the pledge, insisting that past promises have not been fulfilled.

They vowed to continue the protest through the week, with plans to sustain their presence until Friday, when the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to hold its National Convention.

The contractors are calling on the government to urgently honor its financial commitments, warning that continued delays could further destabilize the construction sector and worsen economic hardship for indigenous businesses.

As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Ministry of Finance had not issued an official response to the ongoing protest.

Meanwhile, Vanguard has confirmed that payment of the debt has not commenced, contrary to the assurance given by the Minister, further fueling concerns among the protesting contractors.