LAWYERS, CIVIL GROUPS STORM FINANCE MINISTRY OVER N4TRN UNPAID CONTRACTS
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Over 500 legal practitioners under the aegis of Concerned Lawyers for Probity and Justice on Wednesday besieged the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, joining indigenous contractors protesting the non-payment of an estimated ₦4 trillion for completed capital projects.
The lawyers were joined by civil society organisations, including the Enough is Enough (EiE) Movement and the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), as protesters accused the ministry of alleged favouritism in the handling of contractors’ payments.
The demonstrators also demanded the resignation of the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, accusing her of mismanaging the lingering payment crisis.
Security presence was heightened at the ministry, with police patrol vehicles and armed officers barricading the main entrance of the complex as of 12:48 p.m., while protesters gathered peacefully outside the premises.
Some contractors, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said that despite partial disbursements made in December 2025, the bulk of verified debts remained unpaid, worsening their financial situation.
In a statement signed by Precious Okoh and read during the protest, the contractors lamented that many who borrowed funds at high interest rates to execute government projects were now facing severe consequences.
“Contractors who borrowed from banks at high interest rates to fund these projects now face relentless loan defaults, with banks seizing homes, vehicles and other assets,” Okoh said.
He added that the financial strain had pushed many families into distress, with some breadwinners battling depression and psychological breakdowns.
“Entire households have been uprooted, dreams shattered, and futures stolen—all because payments promised and earned have not been made,” the statement read.
The protesters warned that the crisis extended beyond individual suffering, stressing that delayed payments were crippling the national economy.
“These contractors employ thousands of workers—engineers, masons and labourers—whose livelihoods depend on steady projects. When payments stall, jobs disappear, purchasing power declines and local markets suffer,” Okoh said.
The protesters urged the Federal Government to urgently settle outstanding verified debts, warning that continued neglect would further damage economic stability and public trust.
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