Thousands of indigenous contractors under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) staged a second consecutive day of protest at the National Assembly on Wednesday, demanding the immediate payment of over ₦2 trillion owed for completed government projects dating back to 2024.

The demonstration, which blocked the Assembly’s main entrance, disrupted access for lawmakers, staff, and visitors, forcing detours and delaying proceedings.

Led by AICAN President Jackson Ifeanyi Nwosu, the protest drew over 10,000 contractors who cited severe financial hardship, including bankruptcy, loss of homes, health crises, and even deaths linked to unpaid government contracts. “We’ve been protesting for months. This government owes us and promised payment – but it’s all failure,” Nwosu said, referencing Finance Minister Wale Edun’s September acknowledgment of the debt, which remains unpaid despite a ₦760 billion warrant lacking cash backing.

Personal accounts highlighted the depth of the crisis. Engineer John Olateru reported ₦361 million unpaid since 2018 for a road project in Bayelsa and 2024 renovations at King’s College and Ogbomosho Federal College. Mrs. Ngozi Obiekwe described borrowing at 10% monthly interest to stay afloat, now facing relentless creditors and watching colleagues lose their homes. AICAN General Secretary Babatunde Seun lamented the descent from employers to beggars, appealing directly to President Bola Tinubu for urgent intervention.

The protest echoes a similar blockade at the Finance Ministry in September and briefly disrupted plenary sessions. House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas initially adjourned proceedings for a week before reversing the decision. Lawmakers voiced concern over budgetary imbalances, with Rep. Oluwole Oke (Osun) criticizing excessive state transfers and advocating a 60:40 recurrent-to-capital expenditure ratio. Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (Plateau) noted a ₦500 million cut in constituency allocations, stalling local development.

The Budget Office attributed payment delays to ongoing verification processes and fiscal transitions, promising reports in September that remain unpublished. Fiscal experts, including Umar Yakubu of CEFTPI, condemned the situation as “fiscal irresponsibility,” warning it undermines transparency and public trust. Although Finance Minister Edun introduced a policy in August requiring payment warrants before contract awards, implementation has lagged.

With Nigeria facing a ₦97 trillion national debt and 34% inflation, the standoff threatens to derail flagship initiatives such as the $617.7 million i-DICE program and the Renewed Hope infrastructure agenda. Contractors have vowed to maintain their presence at the National Assembly until their demands are met.