Over 500 lawyers under the banner of Concerned Lawyers for Probity and Justice on Thursday stormed the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja to protest the alleged failure of the Federal Government to pay about ₦4 trillion owed indigenous contractors for completed capital projects.
The lawyers, joined by civil society groups including the Enough is Enough Movement and the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, accused the ministry of favoritism and negligence, as they demanded urgent settlement of verified debts accumulated over several years.
Protesters also called for the resignation of the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, alleging mismanagement of the debt crisis and insensitivity to the hardship faced by contractors and their families.
Some contractors, who spoke anonymously, said that although partial payments were made in December 2025, the bulk of the debts remain unpaid, pushing many into severe financial distress, loan defaults and asset seizures by banks.
In a statement read during the protest, Barrister Precious Isi Okoh said many contractors borrowed funds at high interest rates to execute government projects and are now facing ruined livelihoods, mental health challenges and collapsing households due to non-payment.
The lawyers cited constitutional provisions mandating accountability and citizens’ welfare, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, and warned that legal action would follow if the ministry fails to meet its contractual obligations, as no government official addressed the protesters.
