The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has threatened to stage a protest at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention in Abuja over delayed payments for executed government contracts.
Speaking during a resumed protest in Abuja on Tuesday, Jackson Nwosu said the association is demanding the immediate release of N150 billion within 48 hours from funds already approved for verified federal projects.
According to him, only N21 billion has been paid so far, leaving over N1 trillion in outstanding obligations to contractors.
“For AICAN members, the government has only paid N21 billion within this period. What remains is over N1 trillion, but our immediate demand is N150 billion,” Nwosu said.
He warned that failure to meet the demand could disrupt contractors’ participation in the APC national convention.
Also speaking, Seun Babatunde said the prolonged delay has pushed many contractors into financial distress, affecting operations, loan repayments, and project delivery.
Babatunde revealed that the association is currently engaging officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance to resolve the crisis.
“A lot of our members are suffering. Some have lost their lives due to unpaid debts. One member owed over N100 million died from prostate cancer because he couldn’t afford treatment,” he said.
AICAN members have staged multiple protests in Abuja over unpaid contracts executed between 2024 and 2025.
Although the 2026 appropriation includes N1.7 trillion for verified contractor liabilities and N100 billion for other debts, contractors say disbursements have been slow.
Government officials, however, maintain that payments are tied to strict verification and compliance procedures.
Earlier, Doris Uzoka-Anite said due process is essential to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending.
Meanwhile, Bola Tinubu has directed ministries to prioritise payments to indigenous contractors, amid growing pressure from industry groups.
