Contractors Seek Payment For Completed 2024 Projects

The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to expedite the payment of outstanding contract sums for projects executed in 2024, citing financial hardship among its members.

The association’s president, Mr. Jackson Ifeanyi Nwosu, made the appeal during a peaceful demonstration at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Wednesday.

Nwosu said the contractors had executed various capital projects across ministries, departments and agencies, including the National Assembly, but had yet to receive payment for over a year.

He explained that the delay in payment had exposed many contractors to severe economic distress, adding that some members had lost their lives, while others were battling health challenges linked to the financial strain.

“The projects were completed since 2024, and we have been engaging relevant government officials to ensure payment. The government released a payment warrant in September, but there has been no cash backing since then,” he said.

The AICAN president said the association had earlier met with the Minister of Finance and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who assured that part of the debt — about $760 billion — would be settled first.

He appealed to the authorities to honor the agreement, noting that the association’s members had borrowed heavily from financial institutions to execute the contracts.

Supporting the call, AICAN Vice President, Mr. Fredrick Agada, said the delay in payment had created tension between contractors and their creditors.

“We borrowed money to execute these projects, and the pressure from the banks is enormous. We have been patient for months, but we need the government to take action to avoid further hardship,” Agada said.

Another member, Mr. Johnson Akinsehinwa, urged the government to give equal treatment to both local and foreign contractors, saying indigenous companies should not be sidelined in project financing or payment.

“The local contractors also contribute to the nation’s development. We only want fairness and timely payment for work already completed,” he said.

The contractors maintained that their protest would continue peacefully until their demands were addressed.