The Federal Government has confirmed the payment of the sum of N152 billion to contractors for verified contracts.
The Federal Ministry of Finance confirmed the payment via a circular which was shared on the verified X account of the Minister of State Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite.
“I wish to confirm that the Federal Ministry of Finance has disbursed a total of N152 billion to contractors for verified contracts,” Uzoka-Anite wrote.
According to her, every payment undergoes rigorous verification in accordance with extant laws and regulations, ensuring the protection of taxpayers’ funds and upholding accountability and transparency.
The Ministry of Finance also acknowledged the financial pressures that delays in payment may have placed on contractors, saying it remains committed to continuous dialogue and engagement, seeking effective resolutions to all conflicts.
It also called on all contractors to respect the processes and personnel of the ministry, who has “shown unwavering dedication despite facing varying degrees of intimidation and harassment”.
The ministry has further assured all contractors of its ongoing support and reiterated that all payment requests will continue to be processed in line with due process, timely, and consistently.
“We remain committed to fostering an environment of mutual respect, transparency, and accountability,” the statement added.
Earlier this week, Uzoka-Anite, had clashed with members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), over the alleged failure of the Federal Government to pay its members for contracts completed since 2024, despite several promises.
The contractors said the renewed action was triggered by accumulating debt, worsening cashflow pressures, rising bank defaults, and asset seizures suffered from borrowing to execute government projects.
Tension escalated when security aides fired a shot into the air as the Minister of State for Finance attempted to enter the ministry complex, causing panic among protesters.
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The minister, who arrived at the gate of the ministry some minutes after 10a.m., was denied entry into the compound. Incensed, her driver drove through the protesters, and the vehicle ran over a physically-challenged AICAN member using crutches.
The situation further degenerated when the minister alighted from her vehicle, and her security personnel shot into the air to disperse protesters, who blocked her path and pushed her way through the barricade.
Reacting to the situation, Vice President of the association, Fredrick Agada, said: “The Minister of State was about to enter and she directed her people to shoot at us while we are gathered here legally demanding our payment and they just shot at us. We are harmless; we do not have anything with us. We are just sitting down peacefully demanding our money, our payment.
“Agreements they entered with us;they have not kept any; that is why we are gathered here today.”
He lamented that the contractors had tried many times to meet with the minister, to no avail.
“The other day, we went to her office, we waited for five hours, she was just passing us through and through without meeting with us.
“We want her to tell us why most of those payments finalised since December 31, 2025, have yet to drop till now. But she refused to talk to us,” he explained.