About 500 lawyers, on Thursday, staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, over what they described as selective payment of verified debts owed to indigenous contractors by the Federal Government.
The lawyers, under the aegis of Concerned Lawyers for Probity and Justice, said the government is owing indigenous contractors an estimated ₦4 trillion for completed capital projects nationwide.
The demonstration, organised in collaboration with the Enough is Enough Movement and the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), followed weeks of agitation over unpaid verified claims.
Speaking to journalists during the protest, the lawyers accused the finance ministry of deliberately delaying payments to many indigenous contractors while allegedly favouring a few others, a situation they said has pushed several firms into severe financial hardship.
They noted that contractors have repeatedly protested at the ministry in recent weeks, with some demonstrations reportedly blocking access to the premises. In some instances, security operatives were said to have dispersed protesters.
According to the lawyers, although partial payments were made after protests in December 2025, a substantial portion of the verified debts remains unpaid, worsening the financial strain on contractors and their employees.
The protesters, led by Barrister Precious Isi Okoh, described the situation as both an economic and humanitarian crisis, noting that many contractors relied on bank loans at high interest rates to execute government projects.
They said several contractors now face asset seizures by banks, including homes and vehicles, while families and businesses have been disrupted.
“Contractors who borrowed heavily to deliver government projects are now facing relentless defaults, with banks moving to seize their assets,” Okoh said.
The lawyers warned that the crisis has led to job losses across the construction sector, negatively affecting local economies and slowing national development.
They expressed dissatisfaction with the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, accusing her office of failing to act decisively on the matter.
Citing Sections 15(5) and 16(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the lawyers argued that withholding verified payments constitutes an abuse of power and undermines citizens’ welfare.
They called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and ensure the immediate release of all verified funds owed to contractors.
The protesters warned that failure to resolve the issue would force them to explore legal options, including court actions, public-interest litigation, and calls for international scrutiny of the payment process. They also demanded the resignation of the Minister of State for Finance over the alleged infractions.
