Contractors seeking payment vow to disrupt APC convention, insisting on N150bn debt settlement

The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria has issued a stern warning, threatening to protest at the upcoming All Progressives Congress national convention, citing unpaid debts owed to its members by the Federal Government, which are yet to be settled.

This ultimatum was given by AICAN National President, Jackson Nwosu, on Tuesday in Abuja, during the resumption of the contractors' protest, where he demanded the immediate payment of N150bn within a 48-hour timeframe.

According to Nwosu, this amount is part of the earlier commitments made by the government following protests between December 2025 and January 2026, emphasizing that the government has only paid N21bn within the specified period, leaving over N1tn outstanding to contractors.

Nwosu reiterated that the government's payment of N21bn is a fraction of the total debt, stating that what remains to be paid is over N1tn, but the association is seeking the immediate payment of N150bn.

The AICAN National President warned that if the payment is not made within the next two days, the planned APC national convention in Abuja will be disrupted, and the association will stage a protest at the convention venue to express their grievances.

Nwosu emphasized that the association will make its presence known at the APC convention, highlighting the government's deceptive nature, and reiterating the demand for the immediate payment of N150bn.

He noted that the association is already in talks with officials of the Ministry of Finance and expects the funds to be paid directly into members' accounts, in an effort to resolve the issue amicably.

AICAN National Secretary, Babatunde Seun, also expressed frustration over the repeated delays and unfulfilled promises by the Federal Government, which have exacerbated the situation.

Seun attributed the delay in payments to the extension of the 2024 budget implementation from December 2025 to March 2026, stating that no additional funds have been released since the last protest in January.

He revealed that the association has only received N21bn as part of the list of payments finalized in December 2025, and many members are struggling due to the debt owed by the Federal Government.

Seun alleged that one of the contractors died due to the inability to fund medical treatment, despite being owed over N100m, highlighting the dire consequences of the government's inaction.

The AICAN National Secretary further claimed that the government is attempting to move the contractors to the Debt Management Office for settlement, a move that the association will resist.

Seun urged the Federal Government to prioritize the payment of the N150bn demand, emphasizing that the total outstanding debt to indigenous contractors stands at approximately N1.15tn.

The APC convention is scheduled to take place on March 27–28, 2026, and the association's protest plans may potentially disrupt the event if their demands are not met.