Rising tension is trailing the forthcoming national convention of the All Progressives Congress, as a coalition of contractors has issued a stern warning over outstanding payments owed by the Federal Government.
The contractors cautioned that the event could be disrupted if their demands are not met within a short timeframe.
The development was disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja by the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria as it resumed protests over the issue.
According to the group, the government has failed to honour financial obligations amounting to trillions of naira, despite prior agreements reached after earlier demonstrations.
AICAN’s National President, Jackson Nwosu, stated that the association is pressing for the immediate release of N150 billion.
He explained that the demand forms part of commitments made by authorities following protests held between December 2025 and January 2026.
He noted that only N21 billion has been disbursed within that period, leaving a backlog exceeding N1 trillion owed to contractors nationwide.
“For AICAN members, the government has only paid N21bn between this period in question. What is remaining to be paid is over N1tn, but what we are discussing as the immediate payment we need is N150bn.
“Our immediate demand is for the payment to be made between now and the next two days, and if not, the planned APC national convention in Abuja will not be successful.
“We will stage our protest at the APC convention venue. We will be there and make sure it is known to the world that this government is deceptive. What we want them to pay immediately is N150bn, and they have committed to do that,” he said.
Nwosu further revealed that engagements are ongoing with officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance, expressing hope that the funds would be released directly to contractors without additional delays.
Also addressing the situation, the National Secretary of the association, Babatunde Seun, voiced dissatisfaction over what he described as persistent delays and unfulfilled promises by the government.
He said members of the association are facing serious hardship due to the unpaid debts.
“What AICAN has received as an association of contractors is N21bn as part of the list of payments finalised in December 2025. A lot of our members are dying as a result of this debt the Federal Government owes members,” Seun said.
He attributed part of the delay to the extension of the 2024 budget implementation, which was shifted from December 2025 to March 2026, noting that no additional payments have been made since the last protests in January.
Seun also cited a case involving a contractor who reportedly died after being unable to afford medical care while being owed over N100 million by the government.
He further raised objections to plans of routing payments through the Debt Management Office, insisting that contractors prefer direct settlement of their verified claims.
The association estimated the total debt owed to indigenous contractors at approximately N1.15 trillion, stressing the urgency of resolving the issue to avert further hardship among its members.
The APC national convention is scheduled to take place in Abuja from March 27 to 28, 2026. With the contractors insisting on taking their protest to the venue, concerns are mounting over potential disruptions if the impasse is not quickly addressed.
