The Federal Government has disbursed ₦152 billion to contractors with verified contracts, the Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday. The ministry said the payment followed established verification procedures designed to safeguard public funds and maintain accountability in government spending.
“The process of payment for contracts goes through various verification processes in line with extant laws and regulations, to protect taxpayers’ money and ensure accountability and transparency,” the ministry said.
Acknowledging that delays have placed financial pressure on contractors, the ministry urged continuous dialogue as a means to resolve outstanding issues. Contractors were also reminded to respect the procedures and personnel handling payment requests, who have faced intimidation and harassment.
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“All outstanding payment requests will continue to be processed in line with due process and handled in a timely and consistent manner,” the ministry said.
To further address contractors’ concerns, the Federal Government has proposed allocating ₦1.8 trillion in the 2026 budget to clear outstanding payments for capital projects executed under the 2024 fiscal year. Of this, ₦100 billion is earmarked specifically for indigenous contractors.
The move follows protests by the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), which highlighted mounting debts, loan defaults, and financial strains among contractors.
“The government has failed to honour the agreement to pay contractors whose project details had been submitted and verified. Payments finalised before the closure of the payment portal at the end of December never reflected in our accounts,” said AICAN President Jackson Nwosu.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
