Protest Shuts Down Finance Ministry as Contractors, Pensioners Demand Payments
Operations at the Federal Ministry of Finance were brought to a halt on Wednesday as hundreds of indigenous contractors and retired military pensioners staged a protest over unpaid contract debts and outstanding arrears.
The demonstrators, who blocked the ministry’s main entrance in the Central Business District of Abuja, carried placards and chanted solidarity songs, insisting they would not leave until government settled their entitlements.
According to the contractors, the government has failed to pay for projects completed since 2024, leaving many firms unable to repay loans, retain staff, or continue ongoing works.
“We have executed these contracts in line with approvals, but the ministry has refused to pay us. Families are suffering, and companies are collapsing,” one of the protesting contractors told reporters.
The situation also drew participation from retired soldiers, who accused the government of neglecting their Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), gratuity, and pension arrears.
The veterans, some dressed in military fatigues, said they had been left in hardship despite years of service to the country.
Eyewitnesses said the Minister of Finance was forced to enter the ministry through an alternative gate, while the Permanent Secretary’s attempt to address the crowd was rejected by protesters, who insisted on speaking directly with the minister.
The protest caused heavy traffic gridlock around the area, with civil servants and business owners in nearby offices stranded.
This latest blockade comes barely a month after ex-servicemen staged a similar demonstration at the ministry, demanding settlement of their allowances.
Although the Military Pensions Board assured pensioners at the time that payments were guaranteed, no clear timeline has been provided for settlement of either group’s demands.
As at press time, the Ministry of Finance had not issued an official statement regarding Wednesday’s protest or a definite plan for clearing the debts.
Nigeria has struggled with a backlog of contractual obligations and pension arrears amid tight fiscal space. In June, contractors had warned of project shutdowns if payments continued to be delayed. Analysts say the recurring demonstrations highlight the urgent need for government to publish a transparent debt settlement schedule to restore confidence among service providers and retired personnel.
