At least over 500 legal practitioners, operating under the banner of Concerned Lawyers for Probity and Justice, on Thursday stormed the Federal Ministry of Finance in solidarity with indigenous contractors protesting the non-payment of an estimated ₦4 trillion for completed capital projects.
The lawyers were joined by several civil society groups, including the Enough is Enough Movement and the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN). Together, they accused the Ministry of Finance of favoritism and deliberate neglect in its handling of contractors’ payments.
The protesters also demanded the immediate resignation of the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, whom they accused of gross mismanagement of the crisis.
Heavy security presence marked the protest, with police patrol vehicles and armed officers barricading the main entrance of the ministry as of 12:48 p.m. on Thursday.
Speaking anonymously for fear of victimization, several contractors disclosed that although partial payments were made in December 2025, the bulk of verified debts remain unpaid, deepening their financial distress.
A statement signed by Barrister Precious Isi Okoh and read aloud during the peaceful protest painted a grim picture of the human cost of the delays.
According to Okoh, many contractors who borrowed funds at exorbitant interest rates to execute government projects are now facing loan defaults, with banks seizing homes, vehicles, and other assets.
He said families have been torn apart as breadwinners descend into despair, with some pushed to the brink of mental breakdown. “Entire households have been uprooted, dreams shattered, and futures stolen—all because payments promised and earned have not been made,” he stated.
Okoh further warned that the consequences extend far beyond individual suffering, stressing that thousands of artisans, engineers, and labourers employed by the contractors are now jobless.
“When payments stall, jobs vanish, purchasing power declines, local markets suffer, and economic growth grinds to a halt,” he said, adding that “a nation that starves its own builders starves itself of progress.”
The lawyers expressed deep disappointment in Dr. Uzoka-Anite, insisting that her office bears direct responsibility for releasing the funds. They accused the ministry of displaying “delay and detachment” rather than leadership and empathy, and reiterated their call for her resignation.
To support their position, the lawyers cited constitutional provisions, including Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates the State to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power. They argued that withholding earned payments constitutes a clear abuse that breeds hardship and public distrust.
They also referenced Section 16(2)(b), which obliges the State to manage resources to ensure the welfare and happiness of citizens, noting that paying contractors would inject much-needed capital into the economy and stimulate development.
While appealing to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene, the lawyers warned that they would pursue legal action should the ministry fail to meet its contractual obligations without further delay. No official of the Ministry of Finance addressed the protesters.
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