FG Disburses N152bn To Contractors Amid Ongoing Protests

The Federal Government has announced that it has released N152bn to contractors for verified contracts, even as protests over unpaid bills continue.

In a statement on Thursday, the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the payments were made after strict verification procedures in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

Uzoka-Anite acknowledged that the Federal Ministry of Finance is aware of the financial difficulties contractors have faced due to delayed payments and assured that the ministry will continue processing all valid payment requests.

“I wish to confirm that the Federal Ministry of Finance has disbursed a total of N152bn to contractors for verified contracts,” she said in a statement posted on her X (formerly Twitter) page.

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

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

Since 2025, local contractors have staged protests over what they described as a growing backlog of unpaid bills for projects executed for the Federal Government.

Operating under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, the protesters have at various times blocked the gates of the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly complex to press their demands.

In December 2025, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a multi-ministerial committee to address the dispute, with outstanding claims estimated at around N1.5tn.

Members of the committee include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa; and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji.

A Senate committee also invited Edun to explain the circumstances surrounding the delayed payments.

The protests intensified on Monday when contractors blocked the gates of the Federal Ministry of Finance, preventing Uzoka-Anite from entering the complex.

The situation escalated into a scuffle between security personnel assigned to the minister and the protesters, during which a gunshot was reportedly fired as security tried to disperse the crowd.

The Federal Government budgeted N1.7tn in the 2026 Appropriation Bill to settle outstanding debts owed to contractors for capital projects executed in 2024.

A breakdown of the proposed 2026 national budget shows that this amount is listed under the line item titled “Provision for 2024 Outstanding Contractor’s Liabilities,” reflecting official acknowledgment of delayed payments amid recent protests.

This budget allocation comes after increasing pressure from indigenous contractors and civil society groups in 2025 over unpaid contractual obligations.

In addition to the N1.7tn for 2024 liabilities, the government has budgeted N100bn for a separate item labelled “Payment of Local Contractors’ Debts/Other Liabilities,” which may cover legacy debts from prior years, smaller contract claims, or unsettled obligations not fully verified in the current audit cycle.

The total N1.8tn allocation forms part of the broader N23.2tn capital expenditure in the 2026 fiscal plan, aimed at accelerating infrastructure delivery while addressing past payment arrears.