Indigenous Contractors Threaten Protest at APC Convention Over Unpaid Debts

Indigenous contractors under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) have warned they may stage a protest at the upcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention in Abuja over delayed payments for executed government contracts.

The warning was issued on Tuesday in Abuja by AICAN’s national president, Jackson Nwosu, during a resumed demonstration by members of the association. He said contractors are demanding the immediate release of N150 billion within 48 hours, describing it as a fraction of the total outstanding payments owed for verified federal projects.

According to Nwosu, only N21 billion has been paid so far, leaving a backlog exceeding N1 trillion. He said the association is prioritising the N150 billion as an urgent payment to ease financial pressure on its members.

He added that the continued delay could influence contractors’ participation in the APC national convention if their demands are not met promptly.

AICAN’s national secretary, Seun Babatunde, said many contractors are facing severe financial strain due to the unpaid debts. He noted that the situation has disrupted business operations, hindered loan repayments, and slowed ongoing projects.

Babatunde also revealed that the association is in talks with officials of the federal ministry of finance to resolve the issue. He pointed to the human cost of the delays, citing the death of a member who was owed over N100 million and could not afford medical treatment.

Members of the association have held multiple protests in Abuja over unpaid contracts executed between 2024 and 2025.

The 2026 appropriation bill earmarked N1.7 trillion for verified contractor liabilities from 2024 and an additional N100 billion for other local contractor debts. Despite these provisions, contractors say disbursements have been slower than expected.

Government officials maintain that payments are subject to verification and compliance checks. In January, the ministry of finance confirmed that N152 billion had been released for verified contracts, stressing that due process is necessary to ensure accountability in public spending.

The federal government has previously stated that payments to indigenous contractors are a priority, but contractors say progress has yet to match expectations.