Federal Government Disburses N152bn To Local Contractors Amid Abuja Protests

The Federal Government has confirmed the disbursement of N152 billion to local contractors for verified executed contracts amid weeks of protests by the contractors in Abuja over alleged delays in the payment of their outstanding contract fees.

Minister of State for Finance, Mrs. Doris Uzoka-Anite, made the clarification in a statement posted on her verified X handle on Thursday morning, stressing that all payments made by the Federal Ministry of Finance followed due process and existing financial regulations.

“I wish to confirm that the Federal Ministry of Finance has disbursed a total of ₦152 billion to contractors for verified contracts,” the minister stated.

She added that “every payment undergoes rigorous verification in accordance with extant laws and regulations, ensuring the protection of taxpayers’ funds and upholding accountability and transparency.”

Her comments come against the backdrop of sustained protests by groups of local contractors who, over the past weeks, had staged demonstrations around parts of the Federal Capital Territory, including the precincts of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The protesters alleged prolonged delays in the settlement of payments for contracts they claimed to have duly executed for various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government.

Some of the contractors had accused officials of bureaucratic bottlenecks and selective payments, warning that the delays were crippling their businesses, leading to mounting debts, job losses and stalled projects.

The protests, at times, disrupted activities around the ministry headquarters and drew public attention to the wider issue of government arrears and fiscal pressures.

In her statement, Uzoka-Anite acknowledged the difficulties faced by contractors as a result of payment delays, noting that the government was not insensitive to their plight.

“The Ministry acknowledges the financial pressures that delays in payment may have placed on contractors,” she said, adding that the government remained open to dialogue. “We remain committed to continuous dialogue and engagement, seeking effective resolutions to all conflicts.”

However, the minister also issued a firm warning against acts of intimidation and harassment directed at ministry staff during the protests.

She called on contractors to channel their grievances through appropriate institutional mechanisms rather than resorting to confrontational tactics.

“We also call on all contractors to respect the processes and personnel of the Ministry, who have shown unwavering dedication despite facing varying degrees of intimidation and harassment,” Uzoka-Anite said.

According to her, the verification process for contractor payments was designed to prevent fraud, eliminate inflated or duplicate claims, and ensure that only legitimately executed contracts were paid for.

She stressed that while the process may take time, it is essential for safeguarding public funds and maintaining fiscal discipline, especially at a time when government revenues are under pressure.

The minister further reassured contractors that the ministry would continue to process all valid payment requests fairly and consistently. “The Ministry assures all contractors of our ongoing support and reiterates that all payment requests will continue to be processed in line with due process, timely, and consistently,” she stated.

Uzoka-Anite emphasised that the government’s approach was anchored on accountability, transparency and mutual respect, which she described as critical to sustaining trust between the public sector and private contractors.

“We remain committed to fostering an environment of mutual respect, transparency, and accountability,” she said.

The clarification is expected to calm tensions and refocus attention on constructive engagement between the government and contractors, even as calls persist for faster resolution of outstanding claims to prevent further disruptions to public projects and economic activities.