Indigenous Contractors Call on President Tinubu to Pay Owed N500 billion Contract Money to Stop their Untimely Death

By: Michael Mike

Indigenous contractors have cried to federal government to immediately pay them for contracts they have fully agreed executed in order to stem the tide of death of their counterparts and severe hardship all of them of continued to bear due to continued non-payment of what is due to them.

The group who thronged the federal ministry of finance for the second day running to protest non-payment of over N500 billion to indigenous contractors for contracts already completed and since commission, lamenting severe hardship of contractors and called on the President to intervene immediately.

Speaking during the protest in Abuja, representatives of the Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria said the government’s failure to release payments for fully executed 2024 federal projects has pushed many contractors into financial distress, loss of property, illness and in some cases death.

Haruna Gabari, President of the Nigerian Indigenous Contractors Association, highlighted the non-payment of contractors for 2024 projects, expressing frustration over the federal government taking credit for contracts executed by contractors without providing the approved payments.

He said: “We are protesting the contract we executed on behalf of the Nigerian federal government, a contract commissioned and executed by the federal government, particularly by members of the National Assembly, who have taken credit for it. But so far, the federal government has not paid us.”

Gabari called for presidential intervention to ensure payment and accountability. He urged the President to direct the Minister of Finance and the Coordinator of the Ministry of Economy to release the outstanding funds.

“So what we are asking is that the president intervene and demand that the Minister of Finance and the Coordinator of the Ministry of Economy pay us our money,” he noted.

He criticized the Minister of Finance for alleged incompetence and its impact on the economy. He argued that unpaid contractors slow economic activity and blamed the minister for stagnation.

“He has shown himself to be irresponsible in his duties and incapable of handling such an important position. We are the leaders of the economy. When we pay the contractors, the economy moves. But as you can see, the economy is stagnant. It’s stagnant, nothing is moving,” he said.

Gabari highlighted the human cost of the delay in payments. He spoke of contractors who are sick, hospitalized, or have lost property due to the unpaid contracts, condemning the perceived indifference of the Ministry of Finance.

“Some of our members are dying. Some are in the hospital. Some have lost their property. In response to our disaster, the minister told us that people are dying every day. If contractors are dying, what’s so special about that? Because he’s asking us to die, and we’re asking ourselves to die too,” he stated.

He further warned of escalating consequences if payments are not made promptly. He implied that continued inaction could lead to further economic and social distress, pressing the urgency for immediate government response.

“Before the end of December, by His grace, he will be normal. He will join some of our members who have died,” he said, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the human toll of delayed payments.

Public Relations Officer of the Association, Rotimi Raheem, emphasized the ongoing delay in payment for 2024 contracts. He highlighted that despite repeated protests and official meetings, the contractors have yet to receive their dues.

“We were here, we protested, this is our third time of protesting. We protested about a month ago in National Assembly, in which the leadership of National Assembly met with the President and told the Minister of Finance, instructed the Minister of Finance to pay us. We have submitted our list for about three weeks ago. Up till now our payment has not been made,” he said.

He pointed out that the contractors have been persistent in their demonstrations to secure payment. Raheem noted that the protesters have been camping overnight and engaging directly with officials to press for immediate action.

“We started this protest yesterday and we slept here all through the night. A permanent secretary came out yesterday that our payment will be made before the month end. We told him we are not for that,” he said.

Raheem stressed the urgency for a prompt resolution within 48 hours, explaining that leadership is trying to negotiate a pathway to ensure the funds are released to contractors without further delay.

“We have called our leadership for negotiation this money, that we should give them way in, so that in the next 48 hours our money will be paid. But up till now, we are trying to convince our members to give them the way so that they can enter,” he said.

He further highlighted the accountability of the Finance Ministry in the delay,stressing that the failure to release funds reflects poorly on the ministry and undermines the economic contributions of contractors.

“The leadership of National Assembly met with the President and told the Minister of Finance, instructed the Minister of Finance to pay us. We have submitted our list for about three weeks ago. Up till now our payment has not been made,” he said.

Indigenous Contractors Call on President Tinubu to Pay Owed N500 billion Contract Money to Stop their Untimely Death