Gunshot, Chaos Broke Out At Federal Finance Ministry as Protesting Contractors Block Minister from Entering Ministry Over Debt
By: Online Editor
The usual active calm that greets resumption of workers back to duties at the Ministry of Finance on a typical Monday morning was today disrupted by palpable fears amid sporadic gunshots as protesting local contractors tried to block the minister of state for finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, from entering the Ministry.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the protesters, under the aegis of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), were seen blocking the gate of the ministry over debt owed them by the federal government.
Unfortunately, commotion set in when upon the arrival of Uzoka-Anite at the entrance, security operatives attempted to clear the way for her entry into the building but the move was resisted by the protesters who insisted she would not be allowed to enter the Ministry.
Amid the scuffle that followed, a gunshot was heard as security personnel attempted to disperse the protesters.
The contractors had accused the federal government of refusing to pay them for projects executed.
They had also accused the federal government of refusing to release the funds earmarked in the 2024/2025 budgets.
Last year, the contractors organised a series of protests at the National Assembly Complex and finance ministry.
In December 2025, President Bola Tinubu set up a multi-ministerial committee to resolve the debt owed to federal contractors, with outstanding payments at about N1.5 trillion.
Recently, a senate committee had also invited Edun to shed more light on the circumstances behind the payment delay.
The committee members are Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Tanimu Yakubu, director-general of the budget office; Dave Umahi, Minister of Works; Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development; and Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
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