…Urges Tinubu’s urgent intervention as unpaid projects push members into debt and despair
The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has raised alarm over more than ₦4 trillion in unpaid government contracts, warning that the debt crisis is crippling businesses, ruining families, and pushing thousands of contractors into debt, sickness, and financial ruin.
Speaking during a protest in Abuja on Wednesday, the association’s president, Jackson Nwosu, said despite government claims that payments for the 2024 capital projects had been released, less than one percent of indigenous contractors had received funds.
“They’ve been owing us since last year for over 2,024 capital projects,” Nwosu said. “Out of more than 15,000 contractors, they have only paid about seven. Yet, they go around claiming that all payments have been settled. That is a lie. If they had paid us, we would not be on the streets.”
He lamented that many members had died while waiting for payment, while others were unable to pay school fees, salaries, or service loans taken from banks.
“We are dying. Financial institutions are on our necks every day because the government claims to have paid us, but they haven’t. We will remain on the streets until every last contractor is paid,” he declared.
The association further alleged that ministries and agencies had stopped forwarding approvals to the Ministry of Finance due to a funding freeze, worsening the backlog of unpaid projects.
Also speaking, the National Secretary of the association, Babatunde Seun, accused government officials of insincerity and selective payment, noting that contractors had fulfilled their obligations but were left stranded because warrants issued for February and March were not backed with cash.
“They always pay just one or two people and leave the rest,” he said. “We met with the Finance Minister and the Accountant-General, who assured us of payments within 48 hours. But nothing has happened. Some of us have lost our cars and properties to banks. We cannot even pay workers or our children’s school fees.”
Seun appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to intervene personally. “He was once a contractor and understands this struggle. If he instructs the Finance Minister to pay today, the money will be released,” he added.
Some members shared their personal ordeals, including Davison Ahamefule, who revealed that he executed a government contract in 2011 and only received half payment two years later.
“They verified the project, but since then nothing has been paid. The interest rates from banks have swallowed everything. I am pleading with the government to pay us,” he said.
The contractors stressed that while members had avoided legal action in hopes of an amicable resolution, they might be forced to head to court if the stalemate persists.
“We are not violent people. But if this continues, frustration will push more Nigerians out of the country. All we are asking is to be paid for the work we have done.”
