Indigenous contractors protest, mounts pressure on Finance Minister over N500 billion debt

Local contractors operating under the aegis of ‘’All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria’ on Tuesday barricaded entrances to the Federal Ministry of Finance complex in protest over unpaid N500 billion.

The said the debts was overdue with government doing nothing after completing various projects.

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The protesters, led by the association’s National Secretary, Babatunde Seun-Oyeniyi, lamented the frequent shifting of payment date after series of meeting with Ministry officials.

He told reporters in Abuja that they returned to the ministry in protest because the Ministry deliberately refused to release funds for settlement despite assurances, revealing that debts owed was more than N500 billion.

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According to him, the contractors association had a meeting with members of the National Assembly and the Minister where they were assured by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy, Wale Edun, but nothing was forthcoming since then.

And we immediately stopped the protest,” he said.

According to him, repeated follow-up meetings with the minister had produced no tangible progress. “They have not responded to our request,” he said.

“In fact, more than six times we have come here. Last week, we were here throughout the night before the Minister of Finance came.”

He added that the contractors were puzzled by continued delays even after the minister reportedly stated that a portion of the funds was available. “Even from the last conversation we had, we even told him, OK, for now, you said you have up to N150bn to pay all indigenous contractors. We don’t know why it is causing delays.”

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