A coalition of aggrieved contractors under the banner of Concerned Local Contractors staged a peaceful protest in Abuja on Monday, accusing the Federal Government of failing to pay for projects executed since the beginning of the year.
The contractors, who gathered in front of the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters, expressed deep frustration over what they described as the government’s prolonged indebtedness.
They warned that the continued delay in payments was pushing many of them into economic distress, with ripple effects on their families and businesses.
Carrying placards with bold messages such as “We delivered our projects, now pay us” and “Central payment system by OAGF and FMF has failed woefully revert to the former system”, the contractors lamented that none of their members had received any payments since January 2025.
Speaking during the protest, Jackson Nwosu and Agada Frederick spokespersons for the group, said the non-payment of completed projects had not only crippled their operations but could also lead to desperation among contractors amid rising insecurity and economic challenges in the country.
“This situation is unbearable. For six months now, we’ve completed our projects and submitted all required documentation, yet we haven’t been paid a single kobo.
“We are appealing directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step in and direct the necessary authorities to clear our outstanding payments”, Nwosu said.
The group blamed the delay on inefficiencies in the centralised payment system jointly managed by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
They alleged that the current system has failed to deliver timely disbursements, unlike previous structures where the Finance Ministry handled payments directly.
“We believe the Office of the Accountant General is making selective payments, and this lack of transparency is compounding the problem.
“Let the Finance Ministry resume its role in processing payments so contractors are not left in limbo”, Frederick added.
The contractors also raised concerns about the slow pace of 2025 budget implementation, which they claimed currently stands at just 35%, largely due to unpaid obligations to service providers like them.
The demonstration ended peacefully, but the group warned that continued silence from the government could lead to more intense actions in the coming weeks.
“We are not here to cause trouble. We’re simply asking to be paid for jobs we’ve already done. That’s only fair,” they stressed.
