Minister of state for finance Doris Uzoka-Anite has confirmed that the Federal Government has disbursed N152 billion to contractors for verified contracts, assuring stakeholders of continued engagement and strict adherence to due process.
In a post on X on Thursday, Uzoka-Anite stated that the payments followed rigorous verification in accordance with existing laws and regulations, noting that the process was designed to protect public funds and ensure accountability and transparency.
“I wish to confirm that the Federal Ministry of Finance (@FinMinNigeria) has disbursed a total of N152 billion to contractors for verified contracts. Every payment undergoes rigorous verification in accordance with extant laws and regulations, ensuring the protection of taxpayers’ funds and upholding accountability and transparency,” she wrote.
The minister acknowledged the financial pressure delays in payment may have placed on contractors and said the ministry remained committed to dialogue as a means of resolving outstanding issues.
“The Ministry acknowledges the financial pressures that delays in payment may have placed on contractors. We remain committed to continuous dialogue and engagement, seeking effective resolutions to all conflicts,” Uzoka-Anite stated.
She also urged contractors to respect the ministry’s procedures and personnel, referring to reports of intimidation and harassment faced by officials in the course of their duties.
“We also call on all contractors to respect the processes and personnel of the Ministry, who have shown unwavering dedication despite facing varying degrees of intimidation and harassment,” she said.
Uzoka-Anite further assured contractors of the ministry’s continued support, reiterating that all payment requests would be handled fairly and in line with established procedures.
“The Ministry assures all contractors of our ongoing support and reiterates that all payment requests will continue to be processed in line with due process, timely, and consistently,” she added.
The confirmation follows a protest by indigenous contractors under the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria (AICAN) at the Federal Ministry of Finance on Monday, during which the ministry gates were temporarily blocked over delayed payments.
The association’s president Jackson Nwosu said the protest was driven by mounting debts and worsening cash flow pressures, adding that many contractors were facing bank defaults and the seizure of personal assets after borrowing to execute government projects.
“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,” Nwosu said.
During the protest, Uzoka Anite insisted on addressing the contractors personally despite security advice. Her engagement eased tensions and led to discussions on the status of outstanding payments and the government’s position on verified claims.
An internal memo released by the ministry also confirmed that N152 billion had been paid to contractors whose contracts passed the required verification processes, while stressing that payments are subject to multiple checks to ensure accountability.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to processing all legitimate payment requests in a timely and consistent manner, provided due process requirements are met, as part of efforts to strengthen public financial management and rebuild confidence among indigenous contractors.
