“Pay us for work done, or the economy pays the price.” That’s the message from indigenous contractors who resumed protests in Abuja over unpaid federal projects worth about ₦4 trillion.
Members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) barricaded the Ministry of Finance, saying delays in settling bills from the 2024 budget are choking businesses, killing jobs and slowing economic growth.
AICAN executive Johnson Akinsehinwa warned that unpaid contracts expose firms to huge losses, fuel unemployment and could worsen insecurity as idle youths are pushed to the brink. He noted that Nigeria’s economy relies heavily on government spending, stressing that delayed budget implementation—reportedly just 50% in 2024—hurts workers and businesses alike.
Another AICAN leader, Saidu Jega, said MDAs must urgently release funds, reminding government that every stalled project means families without income and industries under pressure.
Negotiations are ongoing, but the contractors insist one thing is clear: no payment, no peace.
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