Indigenous contractors block finance ministry over unpaid N4trn debt
Orisemeke Benjamin
The All-Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) have insisted that will not back down in their protests until the federal government pay them for projects executed since 2024.
The contractors, who barricaded the main entrance of Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters Abuja, on Monday threatened to shut down the economy over N4 trillion the government was owing them.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Nwosu said “We’re talking about over 4 trillion unpaid because as we speak now there are so many other projects that have been completed to date that but have not been paid.
“The next line of action is, if they don’t kill us, the economy of this country will die. most of these contractors have collected funds from banks which they could not even pay. Banks have seized most of their properties and some of have died. So, as we speak now, we are ready for the worst. We are not leaving the street as we will continue to be law-abiding on peaceful protest to ensure every contract is paid.
“No more issues taking our funds to debt management. It can’t happen anymore. Because the foreign contractors that they are paying, they don’t take their funds to debt management. We can’t take that anymore. Why are you killing the system? We are the ones that will borrow money, fund projects, and those funds will still be in the country while foreign contractors will execute projects, trying to take the money outside.”
He told journalists present that despite several promises by the government none of their member has receive any payment.
“We are here because they’ve reneged on all the agreements. We had an agreement with them that they would pay most of our contractors. We’ve given them the names of contractors’ that completed their projects but till date they’ve not paid. And the worst thing they did was that on the 31st, before they closed the portal at the AGM, the accounts, all finalised payments, none of our contractors has received penny. Even the ones that they were supposed to raise warrants for.
He said the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite promised the warrants would be released once they come up with their lists. the warrants they should come up with their list.
“We’ve given them all their needs till date, we’ve not seen any warrants approved. So that’s why we’re back to the trenches. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edu, told the Senate Committee that the money that the Federal Government is owing indigenous contractors, over 80% of the money has been paid but it’s not true.
“As we speak there are 204 completed projects. If any payment is done, it’s about 30-40%. Over 60% unpaid because the warrants that they released only ended in May last year. And even that at that may most people from January to May have not received payments. So, between June and December, no warrants were approved. So which payment did they make?
A contractor, Chief Barthy Okhipo, noted that in spite of several promises, they are yet to receive a dime from the government.
He said, “I know the last time Edu promised that the government will pay us, has there been any payment?
“The government should try to pay our money, that is why we are here. And if they are not going to pay us, we are not going to leave here.
“We are civil people, we are contractors, we are business owners. We are people who have invested their money on this economy. We need our money, that is why we came here.
