A group of indigenous contractors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has appealed to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intervene in a long-running payment dispute with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), alleging that about ₦5.2 billion in certified contract payments remains outstanding.
Operating under the Association of Indigenous Contractors of FCT, the group submitted a petition at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, urging the ruling party to prevail on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to approve payment for completed projects.
According to the contractors, they have exhausted several channels in their efforts to recover the funds, insisting that the contracts were legally awarded, fully executed, verified, and certified by the appropriate FCTA authorities.
They explained that the projects covered public infrastructure and essential services carried out for the FCT Administration, with many of the contracts executed during the current administration.
The petition, titled “Peaceful Appeal for Intervention over Outstanding Payment for Jobs Completed for Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) For about Three Years Now,” was signed by the association’s chairman, Adebola Benson Ehuwa.
The group said the petition was received on behalf of APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda after members were informed that he was away on official duties.
In the letter, the contractors argued that they approached the APC because the party oversees the administration under which the FCT minister serves and is therefore in a position to facilitate a resolution of the matter.
They maintained that their members are business owners, not politicians, and insisted that their demands are based solely on payments for completed contracts.
Speaking after submitting the petition, Ehuwa rejected suggestions that the contractors were politically motivated, stating that the contracts were awarded by FCTA Mandate Secretaries, who could verify the legitimacy of the projects and the accompanying documentation.
He said the prolonged delay in payment has pushed many contractors into financial distress, resulting in heavy debts, business failures, and job losses.
The association added that all contracts were awarded in accordance with due process and public procurement regulations and that completion certificates were issued after technical verification by relevant FCTA departments.
Ehuwa called on the minister to direct his officials to verify the contracts and approve payment, arguing that local contractors play a vital role in driving economic growth.
According to the association, the APC petition came after previous efforts to recover the funds through the National Assembly, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, and several public protests failed to produce the desired outcome.
The contractors appealed to the APC leadership to intervene and ensure the immediate settlement of the outstanding payments, saying the continued delay has placed many of their members under severe financial pressure.
