Members of the Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria blocked the entrance to the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.
The protesters are expressing grievance over non-payment of funds for contracts they executed for the Federal Government.
They barricaded the entrance to the Ministry of Finance, preventing members of staff from entering the ministry.
The Minister, Wale Edun and his convoy were also not allowed to enter through the main gate.
They carried placards with various inscriptions such as "you cannot grow the economy by starving its builders", “National Assembly is folding their arms watching Nigerian contractors suffer injustice".
Attempts by the permanent secretary to address the protesters proved abortive.
They were angered more upon learning that the minister used an alternative gate to access his office.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Coalition for Equity and Accountability in Public Finance, CEAPF, has demanded the immediate resignation of the Minister, Edu, as well as Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, the Accountant-General of the Federation.
They alleged failure to pay contractors for projects duly captured in the 2024 budget and fully executed by local firms.
This was contained in a statement on Wednesday, signed by its President, Segun Daramola, and Secretary-General, Isaac Idachaba.
According to them, should the two officials refuse to vacate office voluntarily, they would approach the National Assembly.
“This is no longer a mere administrative delay; it is a calculated dereliction of duty. Contractors have completed projects backed by law, projects approved and funded under the 2024 Appropriation Act, yet they are left unpaid and forced into bankruptcy.
“Meanwhile, the Federal Government is executing and paying for projects not captured in either the 2024 or 2025 Appropriation Acts. This is unlawful, it is reckless, and it is unacceptable,” the group claimed.
