Over 500 legal practitioners, under the platform of Concerned Lawyers for Probity and Justice, joined indigenous contractors on Thursday to protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding the release of approximately ₦4 trillion owed for completed capital projects.
The protest, which also involved civil society groups including the Enough is Enough Movement and the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), accused the ministry of favoritism in its dealings with contractors and called for the resignation of the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, over her alleged mishandling of the payment crisis.
Several police patrol vehicles and armed officers were deployed, blocking the main entrance to the ministry as contractors and lawyers gathered to voice their grievances.
Contractors, some speaking anonymously, said that despite partial disbursements in December 2025, most verified debts remain unpaid, worsening their financial hardships. Many have taken loans at high interest rates to fund the projects and now face asset seizures from banks, according to the protest statement.
Barrister Precious Isi Okoh, reading the statement during the protest, said:
“Contractors who borrowed from banks at high interest rates to fund these projects now face relentless loan defaults, with banks seizing homes, vehicles, and other assets. Wives and children watch their breadwinners sink into despair, some pushed to the brink of mental breakdown or worse. Entire households have been uprooted, dreams shattered, and futures stolen—all because payments promised and earned have not been made.”
The statement highlighted the broader economic implications, noting that delayed payments threaten thousands of jobs, reduce purchasing power, and slow national economic growth.
The legal practitioners invoked constitutional provisions to reinforce their demand. Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution requires the state to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power, while Section 16(2)(b) obliges the government to manage resources for the maximum welfare of citizens. The protesters argued that withholding payments constitutes a clear breach of these obligations.
The group appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and warned that legal action would be pursued if the ministry failed to meet its contractual obligations. No officials from the ministry were present to respond to the protest.
