1,000 CSOs Back Abuja Protest, Demand Resignation Of Finance Minister Uzoka-Anite
No fewer than 1,000 civil society organisations (CSOs) have formed a coalition to support the ongoing protest by local contractors in Abuja over unpaid debts allegedly owed by the Federal Government, calling for the resignation of the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite.
The coalition, which described the situation as a looming economic crisis, accused the minister of failing to implement President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on the payment of outstanding debts owed to indigenous contractors across the country.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the coalition said the continued non-payment of contractors amounted to “economic sabotage” and had directly triggered the renewed protests. The statement was signed by Comrade Wisdom Abah of the National Vanguard for Accountable and Transparent Democracy (NVATD); Engr. Istifanus Pam of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF); Comrade Babatunde Ibidapo of the Movement for Accountable and Good Governance (MAGGo); Alhaji Babale Idris of the National Coalition for Peace, Unity and Progress (NCPUP); and Engr. Lukman Adejobi of the National Forum of APC Young Professionals (NFAYP), on behalf of other groups.
According to the coalition, the refusal of the finance ministry to settle verified debts owed to local contractors has worsened economic hardship and threatens to cripple the nation’s economy.
“We have been sounding this warning, calling and begging the Honourable Minister of State for Finance. This whole situation was avoidable, but for the unwarranted negligence of the minister, it has now come upon the nation,” the statement read.
The CSOs commended the contractors for what they described as their “patience, long suffering and patriotism,” noting that many had endured hardship and humiliation since 2024 due to unpaid bills for completed projects.
They urged President Tinubu to urgently constitute a new presidential committee to take over the responsibility of paying the debts, arguing that the finance minister and her team should no longer handle the process.
“We can comfortably say that this is a dangerous signal of economic sabotage. Dr. Uzoka-Anite and her collaborators should not be allowed to handle this issue anymore. In fact, the minister should quietly resign to save the country from a looming economic crisis,” the coalition said.
The groups further alleged that the Federal Government had accumulated debts of over N4 trillion for completed and commissioned projects since 2024, accusing the minister of engaging in selective payments allegedly favouring contractors linked to her personal contacts.
They also claimed that despite assurances that payment warrants would be released once a list of eligible contractors was submitted and verified, only a few selective payments had been made.
“Some contractors have died due to pressure from banks where they obtained loans to execute government projects. Several companies are now bankrupt, while some business owners are battling serious health conditions. Yet, payments are being made selectively, including to foreign contractors,” the statement added.
The coalition expressed concern that despite interventions by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and a presidential directive in December ordering the clearance of all outstanding debts, no meaningful progress had been made.
Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) resumed its protest in Abuja on Monday over an alleged N4 trillion debt owed to its members for completed capital projects appropriated in the 2024 budget.
Speaking to journalists during the protest at the Ministry of Finance, AICAN President, Mr. Jackson Nwosu, warned that the association might be forced to take drastic actions if the outstanding payments were not settled.
Nwosu said most contractors financed the projects through commercial bank loans, leaving them under severe financial pressure. He warned that the situation could lead to a total shutdown of economic activities if the government failed to act.
According to NAN, Nwosu disclosed that many contractors had defaulted on loan repayments, leading to the seizure of personal and company assets, while some members reportedly lost their lives due to stress and financial strain.
