The police, on Tuesday, dispersed a protest by the Coalition of Indigenous FCT Contractors after officers launched teargas at demonstrators demanding the payment of an alleged N5.2 billion debt owed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The contractors, on Tuesday morning, gathered at the FCTA secretariat in Abuja, using a truck to block the main entrance while chanting the name of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
They insisted they were owed for projects they said had been fully executed and confirmed by relevant authorities.
To prevent the group from entering the premises, security officials erected a barricade at the gate.
The standoff grew tense, and after several minutes, police officers released multiple teargas canisters, forcing the protesters to scatter in different directions.
According to the coalition’s leader, Chuka Muojindu, the unpaid sum of N5,211,503,589 relates to various public works, including clearing drainage channels, evacuating sewage, providing medical supplies, delivering school furniture, drilling boreholes and other community-based tasks.
Muojindu stated that all the jobs had gone through inspection and verification processes and were forwarded for payment, but claimed that the minister had refused to approve the final release of funds.
“Every single project was scrutinised and verified. Payment files were submitted, yet the minister has not authorised the disbursement,” he said.
He noted that the non-payment has caused significant hardship among contractors, saying some have died, while others have struggled with severe health issues, homelessness and broken families.
In recent months, the contractors have held several demonstrations accusing Wike and the federal government of failing to settle their outstanding payments.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) had on Sunday threatened to mobilise its members for street protests in solidarity with contractors and pensioners who, according to the party, are owed billions of naira by the federal government.
At the time this report was filed, the FCTA had not issued any official response regarding the clash or the status of the alleged debt.
The contractors maintain that they will continue protesting until the government releases the outstanding funds.