Members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding the immediate payment of debts allegedly owed to them by the Federal Government for executed constituency and federal projects.
The protest commenced around 10 a.m. at the main gate of the National Assembly, where the contractors, organized under their association’s banner, displayed placards demanding action.
The demonstration, led to traffic disruption and a temporary lockdown of the National Assembly complex. The traffic congestion made security operatives divert staff and visitors to a severely congested back entrance, in order to gain access into the building. The group’s president warned the protest would continue until December 31 if payment is not secured.
The All Indigenous Contractors Association alleges that despite completing their contractual obligations, their members have not received payment, pushing many into financial distress.
These delays prevent local companies from paying their own debts and employees, directly impacting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which are crucial for employment.
The demonstration was aimed towards targeting the National Assembly in order to force legislative action and compel the executive, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to release the necessary funds.
The House of Representatives initially responded by suspending plenary, but quickly reversed the decision due to positive developments from the Executive, to address the grievances.
The National President of the association, Jackson Ifeanyi Nwoss, expressed the frustration of the group, directly accusing the Federal Government of neglect. He warned that the group would escalate the action, vowing to occupy strategic public offices nationwide, if the payment deadline is missed.
The National Assembly is set to resume plenary to hear details on the progress made by the Executive in resolving the contractors’ debt.
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