Tensions flared at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) headquarters on Monday as local contractors staged a protest, demanding payment of an alleged N5.2 billion debt for work completed.The demonstrators, led by spokesman Adebola Benson, vowed to remain at the FCTA gates until their grievances are addressed, accusing FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of neglecting outstanding liabilities. However, Wike’s aide has firmly denied the minister’s involvement in awarding the contracts, escalating the controversy.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
Benson, speaking on behalf of the contractors, claimed the debts, totaling over N5.2 billion, have accumulated over time, with some dating back to the tenure of Wike’s predecessor, Mohammed Bello.
“The previous minister paid in installments, but when Wike came, he paid a bit and stopped,” Benson said, appealing for urgent action to clear the debts. He noted that the contractors, who worked on projects like refuse evacuation, borehole drilling, and infrastructure maintenance, have faced financial hardship due to non-payment. “We are begging the minister to pay us,” he added.
In a swift rebuttal, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to Minister Wike, dismissed the claims, asserting that Wike did not award any contracts to the protesting contractors. “If they have documents showing contract awards by the minister, they should produce them,” Olayinka challenged.
We are begging the minister to pay us
He explained that upon assuming office in 2023, Wike inherited a N10 billion debt for “minor procurements” or “shopping” from previous administrations. Payments of over N5 billion were approved and disbursed in December 2023, with an additional N5 billion cleared in January 2024, fully settling the inherited liabilities.
Olayinka raised concerns about the legitimacy of new claims, noting that just three months after clearing the N10 billion, contractors presented another bill exceeding N15 billion, which later fluctuated to N8 billion and now N5.2 billion.
“How can you claim to have carried out jobs worth over N15 billion within three months without the minister’s approval?” he questioned, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency in the contract awards.
I installed ACs, inverters, and boreholes, but we haven’t been paid for nearly two years
The contractors’ protest has spotlighted ongoing issues with procurement processes in the FCT, with experts pointing to loopholes that allow unverified claims to persist. Some contractors, like Okeke Benardine, claimed individual debts in the hundreds of millions, underscoring the personal toll of the financial delays. “I installed ACs, inverters, and boreholes, but we haven’t been paid for nearly two years,” Benardine told reporters.
As the standoff continues, the contractors remain resolute, refusing to vacate the FCTA premises until their demands are met. The FCTA, however, maintains that no further payments will be made without clear evidence of contract approvals. This dispute has sparked broader conversations about transparency in public procurement and the plight of local contractors in Nigeria’s capital.