The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, on Monday, clashed with members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) over the alleged failure of the Federal Government to pay its members for contracts executed and completed since 2024, despite several promises.

The minister, who arrived at the gate of the ministry in Abuja some minutes after 10 am, was denied entry. Reports say her vehicle drove through the crowd, and one physically challenged AICAN member using crutches was injured in the process.

The situation escalated when Dr. Uzoka-Anite alighted from her vehicle and security personnel attempted to manage the crowd.

Reacting to the situation, the association’s Vice President, Fredrick Agada, said, “The Minister of State was about to enter, and she directed her people to shoot at us, even though we were gathered here legally demanding our payment. They just shot at us. We are harmless; we do not have anything with us. We are just sitting down peacefully demanding our money, our payment.

“Agreements they’ve entered with us, several, which they’ve not kept any one of them, and that is why we are gathered here today.

“All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria, we have tried to meet with her several times. The other day, we went to her office and waited for five hours. She just passed us through and through without meeting with us.

“We want her to tell us why most of those payments were finalised since 31 December 2025, and none have dropped up to now. And she refused to talk to us.”

President of the body, Jackson Ifeanyi, said that as an association, “We will continue to be peaceful. No matter the amount of provocation, we will continue to be peaceful in demanding what is right.

“I am advising the minister of state to tread with caution because some of these actions are demeaning. She will bring the government into disrepute, so if she knows what she is doing, she will make sure funds for contractors are available.

“The level she is going to now is like pride. When the Bible says pride comes before a fall, she should know what she is doing. We are here; we are not going anywhere. If it takes us one year, we will be here.”

Also, the group’s Secretary General, Babatunde Seun, urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene further in the matter.

He said, “It is unfortunate that even though the President directed them to pay contractors, up to now they’ve not paid us. So, we are here to ask, what is the problem? What happened to the money? Where have they diverted our money to?”

Meanwhile, officials of the association were seen being led into the ministry for a meeting shortly after the incident. (The Guardian)

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