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By Torkwase Nyiekaa
The National Forum of APC Young Professionals (NFAYP) has cautioned that the Federal Government’s failure to fully settle outstanding payments owed to indigenous contractors could pose serious political risks for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday and jointly signed by the Forum’s National Chairman, Engr. Lukman Adejobi, and its Secretary, Dr. Godwin Lukas, the group urged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently clear the arrears, warning that prolonged delays are already fuelling discontent among key grassroots stakeholders.
The warning follows a lingering dispute between the Federal Government and local contractors over unpaid obligations for projects executed under the 2024 budget. The situation worsened in the last quarter of 2025, when contractors staged sustained protests, barricading the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance in Abuja for several weeks while demanding payment of debts estimated at over N4 trillion.
“While some payments have been made, our findings indicate that more than N2 trillion is still outstanding. This continued non-payment is not only economically damaging but also politically dangerous for our party,” the statement said.
The Forum noted that many indigenous contractors financed government projects through bank loans, adding that persistent delays in payment have damaged their credit standing, forced some firms into insolvency and intensified financial hardship across the sector.
According to the group, the situation threatens to weaken the APC’s grassroots support base ahead of the 2027 elections, as many of the affected contractors are politically active and influential within their communities.
“These contractors are not just business owners; many are grassroots politicians with families, supporters, and networks capable of mobilising votes. If they are continually neglected, it could affect their willingness to support the APC in 2027,” the statement said.
The NFAYP also criticised the Federal Government for what it described as a preference for settling obligations to foreign contractors while local firms remain unpaid.
The Forum specifically cautioned the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi; and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, against prioritising foreign contractors over indigenous companies in the disbursement of funds.
It questioned why foreign firms were allegedly being paid ahead of local contractors, despite the provision of N1.8 trillion in the 2026 budget to clear outstanding payments for 2024 capital projects executed by indigenous companies.
Emphasising that electoral victories in Nigeria are determined by citizens and not foreign interests, the NFAYP urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to prevent a political backlash. The group called for the immediate settlement of outstanding debts and appealed to contractors to suspend planned protests in January, to allow more time for the issues to be resolved.