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By Tracy Moses
The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has threatened to stage a protest at the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention in Abuja over unpaid government debts totaling N150 billion.
The warning was issued on Tuesday by the National President of AICAN, Jackson Nwosu, during the resumption of the association’s protest in the Federal Capital Territory. He called on the Federal Government to immediately settle outstanding obligations owed to its members.
The demand comes after months of engagement between AICAN and the Federal Government over delayed payments on contracts awarded to indigenous contractors across sectors such as infrastructure, power, and industrial projects.
The association previously staged nationwide protests between December 2025 and January 2026, securing the payment of only N21 billion while over N1 trillion remains unsettled. According to AICAN, the unpaid contracts have caused significant financial hardship for members, with some forced to halt projects or suffer personal losses, including medical crises. The association estimates that the immediate payment of N150 billion is urgent to sustain operations and avert further distress.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Press Affairs, Nwosu said the demand forms part of an earlier agreement reached with government officials. “For AICAN members, the government has only paid N21 billion within this period, while over N1 trillion remains outstanding.
What we are demanding now is an immediate payment of N150 billion,” he said, warning that failure to meet the demand within 48 hours could disrupt the ruling party’s national convention. “Our immediate demand is that the payment be made within the next two days. If not, the planned APC national convention in Abuja will not be successful,” he added.
The association’s National Secretary, Babatunde Seun, expressed frustration over persistent delays and unfulfilled promises. “A lot of our members are suffering due to these unpaid debts. Some have even died. We recently lost a member who was owed over N100 million. If he had been paid, his medical condition could have been treated,” Seun said. He further alleged that the government was attempting to redirect contractors to the Debt Management Office, a move the association rejected.
According to him, while the total debt stands at about N1.15 trillion, the immediate concern is the settlement of N150 billion.
Seun urged the Federal Government to prioritise paying indigenous contractors rather than focusing on political activities. “Our appeal is simple: pay the N150 billion now. Let the government meet its obligations before embarking on other engagements,” he said.
The contractors insisted they would proceed with their planned protest at the APC convention if their demands are not met, warning that the event could be disrupted as a result.