The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has warned that its members may resume nationwide protests if the Federal Government fails to urgently release and transmit outstanding warrants for completed projects.
In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting in Abuja, the association said while some of their earlier demands had been partially met, critical concerns about delayed payments remain unresolved.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the National President of AICAN, Mr. Jackson Ifeanyi, lamented that despite assurances from the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, indigenous contractors are still being owed several months of arrears.
“It is unfair and unjust to continue tying payments for contractors — many of whom took loans from commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and private lenders — risking their hard-earned properties for over a year to the August FAAC allocations,” Ifeanyi said.
He added that although warrants for February and March had been signed and released following the association’s agitation, “the warrants for April, May, June, and July must be immediately transmitted to the various MDAs without further delay.”
AICAN further criticised recent public claims by the Finance Minister that the government had cleared its outstanding 2024 liabilities. The group described the statement as “misleading” and one that has worsened the plight of indigenous contractors.
“The Government has not cleared outstanding liabilities from the 2024 budget, despite public statements by the Honourable Minister. This false claim has emboldened creditors, especially banks, to begin demanding immediate liquidation of loans granted to our members,” the communiqué read.
The association maintained that many contractors who completed projects as far back as late 2024 are yet to be paid, with some projects not even uploaded onto the government’s payment platform.
On the next line of action, the AICAN leadership said it had suspended its planned protest earlier scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2025, opting instead for a world press conference to further press home their demands.
“We are not relenting. If these demands are not addressed immediately, we will proceed with our peaceful protest in accordance with our earlier resolutions,” the association warned.
Reiterating its motto, “Injury to one, injury to all,” AICAN called on the government to act responsibly to rebuild trust with local contractors.
Indigenous Contractors Threaten Fresh Protest Over Unpaid Government Liabilities
