Contractors Urged to Halt Protests, Back Dialogue on Outstanding Federal Debts

Abuja, 23 January 2026 – A coalition of indigenous contractors has called on contractors across Nigeria to exercise restraint and support dialogue with the Federal Ministry of Finance over long-standing unpaid debts, cautioning that continued protests could stall critical reforms in the national payment system.

The group, operating under the Coalition for Sustainable Fiscal Reform (CSFR), said the ministry’s ongoing verification and payment process is designed to resolve contractor arrears in a sustainable and transparent manner.

At a press briefing in Abuja, Dr Ridwan Kadiri, CSFR’s National Coordinator, acknowledged contractors’ frustrations over delayed payments but warned that public demonstrations risk undermining systemic reforms.

“The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, inherited a debt profile riddled with inconsistencies, weak verification frameworks, and repeated arrears, requiring a structural reset of the payment process,” Kadiri explained.

CSFR noted that thorough verification ensures that payments are disbursed to contractors who have delivered on their projects, protecting genuine indigenous contractors and preventing abuse of public funds. Recent disbursements followed a de-bottlenecking exercise aimed at eliminating fictitious and inflated claims that historically slowed payments.

The coalition also dismissed calls for Dr Uzoka-Anite’s resignation, describing them as misguided and potentially damaging to the ongoing reforms. CSFR urged all stakeholders to remain patient and engage constructively with the ministry to ensure long-term resolution of contractor debts.