By Sodiq Adelakun
The Federal Government has confirmed that it has paid ₦152 billion to local contractors for verified and completed projects, following weeks of protests in Abuja over alleged delays in contract payments.
The Minister of State for Finance, Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this in a statement posted on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday. She said the payments were made strictly in line with existing financial laws and procedures.
“I wish to confirm that the Federal Ministry of Finance has disbursed a total of ₦152 billion to contractors for verified contracts,” the minister stated.
According to her, all payments undergo thorough checks to ensure accountability and protect public funds. “Every payment is subjected to rigorous verification in line with extant laws and regulations, to prevent fraud and ensure transparency,” she added.
Her clarification comes amid sustained protests by groups of local contractors who have staged demonstrations around parts of the Federal Capital Territory, including the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The contractors claim they are owed large sums for projects executed for various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Some of the protesters accused government officials of bureaucratic delays and selective payments, warning that the situation has left many contractors burdened with debts, forced job losses and stalled projects.
The protests, which at times disrupted activities around the ministry, have drawn public attention to the broader issue of government arrears and pressure on public finances.
Uzoka-Anite acknowledged the financial strain contractors may be facing but stressed that the government is not indifferent to their concerns. “The Ministry recognises the financial pressures that payment delays may have placed on contractors,” she said, noting that the government remains open to dialogue.
However, she cautioned against acts of intimidation and harassment directed at ministry staff during the protests, urging contractors to follow appropriate institutional channels in resolving disputes.
“We call on all contractors to respect the processes and personnel of the Ministry, who have continued to carry out their duties despite facing varying degrees of intimidation and harassment,” the minister said.
She explained that the verification process is necessary to eliminate inflated or duplicate claims and ensure that only genuinely executed contracts are paid for, even though the process may take time.
Uzoka-Anite further assured contractors that all valid payment requests would continue to be treated fairly. “All payment requests will be processed consistently and in line with due process,” she said.
She emphasised that the government’s approach is anchored on accountability, transparency and mutual respect, which she described as essential for maintaining trust between the public sector and private contractors.
