Contractors threaten to shut down APC convention over N150bn debt

The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria has threatened to disrupt the All Progressives Congress national convention over alleged unpaid debts owed to its members by the Federal Government.

At a resumed protest in Abuja on Tuesday, AICAN National President, Jackson Nwosu, demanded the immediate release of N150bn within 48 hours, describing the sum as part of earlier commitments made by the government following demonstrations held between December 2025 and January 2026.

Nwosu said the government had paid only N21bn so far, leaving more than N1tn outstanding.

“For AICAN members, only N21bn has been paid. What remains is over N1tn, but our immediate demand is N150bn.

“This must be paid in the next two days. If not, the APC national convention in Abuja will not be successful,” he declared.

He warned that contractors would stage a protest at the convention venue to expose what he called government “deception,” insisting that the N150bn payment had been previously agreed upon.

AICAN leaders said they were already in discussions with the Ministry of Finance and expected the funds to be transferred directly to affected contractors.

The association’s National Secretary, Babatunde Seun, said members were exhausted by repeated delays and broken promises.

He blamed the extension of the 2024 budget implementation timeline—from December 2025 to March 2026—for worsening payment delays, noting that no additional funds had been released since January.

Seun said the prolonged debt burden had caused severe hardship, alleging that one contractor died after being unable to afford medical treatment despite being owed more than N100m.

He also accused the government of attempting to redirect contractors to the Debt Management Office for settlement, a move he said AICAN would resist. He insisted that outstanding debts to indigenous contractors now total about N1.15tn.

The APC national convention is scheduled for March 27–28, 2026.