Legal practitioners numbering over 500, acting on the platform of Concerned Lawyers for Probity and Justice, stormed the Federal Ministry of Finance to join a protest by indigenous contractors demanding the payment of an estimated ₦4 trillion for completed capital projects. However, some lawyers on social media said they were not lawyers, not just because they wore white and black, and TheNigeriaLawyer could not verify if they were all lawyers.
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The legal practitioners, who were also joined by other civil society groups such as the Enough Is Enough Movement and the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN), accused the ministry of favouritism in its dealings with contractors.
The protesters equally demanded the resignation of the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, over her alleged mismanagement of the crisis.
Several protesters were sighted alongside several police patrol vehicles, as well as armed policemen blocking the main entrance of the ministry’s building as of 12:48 pm on Thursday.
Some of the contractors, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, claimed that despite partial disbursements in December 2025, the majority of verified debts remain unsettled, exacerbating their financial hardship.
In a statement signed by Barrister Precious Isi Okoh, which was read during the peaceful protest, the contractors highlighted cases where individuals who borrowed at high interest rates to fund projects now face asset seizures by banks.
Okoh said: “Contractors who borrowed from banks at high interest rates to fund these projects now face relentless loan defaults, with banks seizing homes, vehicles, and other assets.
“Wives and children watch their breadwinners sink into despair, some pushed to the brink of mental breakdown or worse.
“Entire households have been uprooted, dreams shattered, and futures stolen, all because payments promised and earned have not been made.
“Beyond individual suffering, the ripple effects cripple our national economy. These contractors employ thousands of workers, masons, engineers, labourers, who depend on steady contracts for survival.
“When payments stall, jobs vanish, purchasing power drops, local markets suffer, and economic growth grinds to a halt. A nation that starves its own builders starves itself of progress.
“We are profoundly disappointed with the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, whose office bears direct responsibility for releasing these funds. Instead of showing leadership and empathy, her ministry has become a symbol of delay and detachment. She must resign now.”
The lawyers further cited constitutional provisions to support their position.
They said: “Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) requires the State to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power, yet withholding earned payments from citizens who delivered is a clear abuse that breeds distrust and hardship.
“Section 16(2)(b) further obliges the State to manage resources for the maximum welfare and happiness of every citizen. Payments to these contractors would inject vital capital back into the economy, supporting families and fuelling development.”
While appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, the legal practitioners vowed to seek legal remedies should the ministry fail to fulfil its contractual obligations forthwith. No ministry official was on hand to address the protesters.
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