Contractors still marching on Finance Ministry

The protest by members of the Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (ICAN) entered its second day yesterday with the protesters finally getting an audience with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, over their demand for the payment of 2024 contracts executed for the Federal Government.

The demonstration, which brought activities at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja to a standstill, resumed with even greater intensity as early as 8:00 a.m.

On Tuesday, the contractors had blocked the main entrance of the ministry, restricting vehicular movement and forcing staff and visitors to struggle to access the building. That action set the tone for a continued push for payment of outstanding contract fees.Yesterday morning, the contractors escalated their protest by erecting a canopy directly at the ministry’s main gate before proceeding to their scheduled meeting with the minister.The canopy created a blockade that prevented workers and visitors from entering the premises. Those who earlier managed to enter the building found themselves unable to exit, as the contractors kept the area firmly cordoned off.Tensions rose further when the protesters placed a white casket at the entrance of the ministry—an unusual and symbolic gesture intended, according to them, to demonstrate the seriousness of their demands. The act drew the attention of security officials and passersby, reinforcing the high stakes of the standoff.

The contractors insist that they are owed for projects completed in 2024 and say the funds should be sourced from revenue already generated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). They argue that many of their members are facing severe financial strain due to the non-payment and that the continued delay has become unbearable.

When The Nation visited the ministry on Wednesday, a cluster of protesters remained stationed outside the blocked entrance. They confirmed that their leaders had gone inside to meet with Mr. Edun. Several of them expressed optimism that the engagement with the minister would yield a positive outcome.

One of the protesters said: “Our leaders are with the minister now and we believe they will speak for all of us. We just want to be paid for the work we have already done.”

Another contractor added that the group was prepared to remain at the ministry for as long as necessary until concrete assurances were given. “We came here again today because yesterday showed that the government is hearing us. We won’t leave until we get a clear way forward,” he said.

As at the time of filing this report, the meeting between the leaders of the contractors and the minister was still ongoing. Staff of the ministry continued to operate under restricted movement, with access to the building tightly controlled due to the continued presence of the protesters.

The outcome of yesterday’s talks is expected to determine the next steps in the confrontation, which has already disrupted operations at one of the government’s most strategic ministries for two consecutive days.

Contractors still marching on Finance Ministry - The Nation Newspaper