A group of contractors, operating under the Concerned Local Contractors association, held a peaceful protest outside the federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

They voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to settle payments for projects completed since early 2025.

The contractors highlighted that the prolonged delays have caused significant financial strain on them and their families. They carried signs calling for prompt payment and criticised the current central payment system managed by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), urging a return to the previous payment process handled by the Ministry of Finance.

One spokesperson for the group appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu, requesting his intervention to resolve the backlog. The spokesperson stated that less than 35 per cent of the 2025 budget has been implemented, attributing the slow progress to unpaid contractors.

He said, “We have delivered on our projects, but payments have been withheld for over six months. We urge the president to engage the relevant authorities to release our funds without further delay.”

The contractors warned that continued delays could exacerbate economic difficulties, especially given Nigeria’s ongoing security and financial challenges.