Contractors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a protest on Monday at the gate of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over unpaid contract fees allegedly worth more than ₦5 billion.
According to a report by Punch on Monday, August 18, 2025, the protesters, made up of local contractors who handled projects in schools, hospitals, water supply, and other government offices, said they had not been paid for almost two years, despite completing their jobs.
One of the contractors, Okeke Benardine, told The PUNCH that many of them are struggling to survive as their personal money was used to finance government projects. He explained that he installed air conditioners, inverters, and boreholes in different offices, yet payment had not come.
“All we are doing is begging the minister. We don’t know the problem; he should just pay us. That is the essence of all this,” Benardine said. He revealed that about ₦5.2 billion was owed to contractors, with his own unpaid bill reaching ₦270 million. According to him, 70 percent of the debt came from 2023 contracts.
Another contractor, Adebola Benson, claimed he was even arrested after sending the minister a text message to ask about the delay. “I was shocked when Police officers investigated me simply because I asked why we are not being paid,” he said.
The contractors carried placards with messages like, “Hon Minister Wike, please kindly authorise our payment. We can hardly take care of our families.”
They appealed directly to the minister to meet with them face-to-face and explain the reasons for the delay.
“Our families are suffering,” one protester said. “We just want him to pay us for the work we have already done.
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