.plans peaceful 2027 election-day protest

By Progress Godfrey

ABUJA – The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has urged the Federal Government to pay outstanding contract debts, warning that its members would stage a peaceful protest on the 2027 general election day if the payments were not made.

National President of AICAN, Mr Jackson Nwosu, speaking during a fitness walk and health awareness programme organised to mark the group’s one-year active anniversary in its demand, in Abuja on Friday, said over N1 trillion was still outstanding across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Nwosu stated that out of the total debts accumulated over the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, the government has only processed payment warrants worth about half a trillion Naira, leaving local contractors to face severe financial distress.

He noted that the prolonged non-payment has led to the death of several members due to high blood pressure, while others have seen their properties seized by banks over unpaid loans used to execute government projects.

“For now, the outstanding amount is over a trillion. But, you know, sometimes when contractors finish their projects, they release warrants. But for now, the warrants that we have now that have been released, the payment that is available now is about over half a trillion,” he said.

The president warned that if the outstanding funds were not released promptly, local contractors would stage a massive peaceful protest during the upcoming 2027 general election to draw attention to their plight.

National Vice President of AICAN, Mr Ode Agada, clarified that the proposed action on election day would be entirely peaceful and not intended to disrupt or destroy the democratic process.

He said, “Just like our national president said, they should endeavour to pay this money promptly. If not, we will come out. We will come out peacefully.”

Agada urged all members across the country to remain resilient and united, assuring them that the association would maintain pressure on the authorities until all local contractors were fully compensated.

Also speaking, the National Secretary of AICAN, Mr Babatunde Seun, emphasised that local contractors could no longer survive under the heavy burden of unpaid debts.

“We will continue demanding what belongs to us. We have worked, and we need to get paid. No matter how difficult it is for government, it is much more difficult for us to survive. So they need to pay us,” Seun said.