By Joan Nezi | Abuja
Abuja — Fresh tension is brewing between the Federal Government and indigenous contractors over reports that only National Assembly constituency projects executed in 2024 will be prioritized for payment in the upcoming debt settlement exercise.
Concerned contractors who spoke exclusively to AWC News under conditions of anonymity described the move as “ill-advised and provocative,” warning that it could trigger another wave of nationwide protests.
According to the contractors, the decision to compile and release funds solely for constituency projects—while leaving out completed contracts in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)—would not only be unfair but could also “further polarize relations between the government and indigenous service providers.”
“It will be a huge mistake to pay only for National Assembly projects while hundreds of completed projects under federal ministries and parastatals are ignored,” one contractor lamented. “We risk another round of protests because many of us are already heavily indebted to banks after executing government jobs in good faith.”
Background: Indigenous Contractors’ Protest
Recall that members of the Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (ICAN) had recently staged a peaceful protest at the entrance of the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demanding immediate payment for projects completed in 2024.
Their President, Chief Ifeanyi Jackson, in an earlier exclusive interview with AWC News, confirmed that following the intervention of the Presidency through the Honourable Minister of Finance, Chief Adebayo Olawale Edun, the association decided to suspend its protest for one week pending government action.
“We suspended the protest out of respect for the Presidency and the assurances we received from the Minister of Finance,” Chief Jackson had said. “We were told that payments were being processed for all verified projects executed in 2024, across both the National Assembly and other MDAs.”
New Twist: Payment List Compiled at the National Assembly
However, in what appears to be a sudden twist, AWC News investigations reveal that the list of projects to be paid for is now being compiled at the National Assembly, rather than by the relevant ministries or agencies.
Sources indicate that the plan is to settle lawmakers’ 2024 constituency projects first, after which contractors would be remobilized for 2025 project cycles.
“This development has shocked many of us,” a contractor told AWC. “The process was supposed to be transparent and inclusive, but it now appears hijacked by political interests.”
Lawmakers’ Pressure on the Presidency
Feelers reaching AWC News suggest that members of the National Assembly have allegedly threatened to stall the 2026 budget process and suspend cooperation with the Executive until funds for their constituency projects are released.
The lawmakers reportedly argued that since the projects were executed in their constituencies and commissioned by government, the payments must be prioritized to sustain public trust.
A source close to the budget process confided that:
“The legislature is mounting serious pressure. They want the Finance Ministry to settle all 2024 constituency project debts before any discussion on the 2026 budget can commence.”
Potential Fallout
Analysts warn that limiting payments to National Assembly projects could deepen mistrust between contractors and government institutions, and discourage indigenous participation in future federal contracts.
Economic observers further caution that selective debt settlement may fuel public anger, undermine confidence in the government’s fiscal transparency, and delay economic recovery efforts already strained by inflation and reduced public spending.
“The FG must ensure equity in this process,” one policy expert told AWC. “Excluding MDAs’ contractors from payment could ignite protests that may disrupt the fragile stability achieved since the last demonstration.”
Ongoing Coverage
As of press time, neither the Ministry of Finance nor the Budget Office has officially confirmed or denied the reported plan to prioritize National Assembly projects.
AWC News is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to report unfolding developments in the ongoing FG–Indigenous Contractors debt settlement controversy.
— AWC News | Abuja
