Debt: Indigenous contractors threaten to protest at APC convention

The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has warned that its members may stage a protest at the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja over delayed payments for government contracts.

The association’s national president, Jackson Nwosu, made this known on Tuesday during a resumed protest in Abuja.

Nwosu said AICAN is demanding the immediate release of ₦150 billion within 48 hours as part of funds owed for verified federal projects. According to him, only ₦21 billion has been paid so far.

“For AICAN members, the government has only paid ₦21 billion between this period in question; what is remaining to be paid is over ₦1 trillion, but what we are discussing as the immediate payment is ₦150 billion,” he said.

“Our immediate demand is for the payment to be made between now and the next two days.”

He warned that the delay could affect contractors’ participation in the APC convention.

Also speaking, Seun Babatunde said many contractors are facing severe financial strain due to the outstanding debts.

Babatunde noted that the delays have disrupted business operations, loan repayments, and project execution, adding that the association is engaging the federal ministry of finance to resolve the issue.

“A lot of our members are dying as a result of the debt the federal government owes them,” he said, citing the case of a member who reportedly died while being owed over ₦100 million.

AICAN members have staged multiple protests in Abuja over unpaid contracts executed in 2024 and 2025.

The 2026 appropriation bill reportedly made provisions of ₦1.7 trillion for verified contractors’ liabilities and ₦100 billion for other local contractors’ debts. However, contractors say disbursements have been slower than expected.

Government officials, on the other hand, maintain that payments are subject to verification and compliance checks to ensure transparency.

In January, authorities confirmed that ₦152 billion had been disbursed for verified contracts. Former Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, had emphasised that the verification process is necessary for accountability.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed that payments to indigenous contractors be prioritised.