Serious wahala burst for Abuja on Monday as members of the Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (ICAN) block the main gate of the Federal Ministry of Finance, stop all movement and demand make government pay dem outstanding money wey don pass N500 billion.
The protest jam traffic for area, leave motorists dey squeeze pass only one lane. Contractors full everywhere with placards, dey sing protest songs. One placard read: “No pay 2025 budget until una finish pay 2024 projects.”
General Secretary of the association, Mr. Babatunde Seun Oyeniyi, tell journalists say dem no go shift ground until Federal Government pay every kobo wey dem owe.
Oyeniyi remind people say dem protest before from November 4–6, but stop am after National Assembly beg and promise to settle the matter.
“We stop the protest because National Assembly talk say them go sit down with the minister. But since that time, nothing don happen,” he talk.
He explain say government tell dem partial payment dey come and say dem fit release N150 billion, but up till now, no shishi don reach anybody hand.
“Dem issue warrants but no cash backing. When we calculate everything, government dey owe indigenous contractors more than N500 billion,” he talk.
Oyeniyi say wetin dey fear dem pass be say government wan shift payment enter next year.
“Dem wan push us enter 2026 budget. We no go gree. We no dey go anywhere until dem pay us,” he warn.
According to am, the Minister of Finance don refer the matter back to the National Assembly, meaning contractors go still wait for another round of discussions.
