ADC Warns It May Join Nationwide Protests Over Unpaid Contractors and Pensioners’ Arrears

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised serious concerns over the growing hardship faced by local contractors and pensioners across Nigeria, warning that it may join nationwide protests if the Federal Government fails to act quickly.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja, expressing frustration over delayed payments and what he described as government neglect of vulnerable citizens.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has threatened to stage a nationwide naked protest on December 8 over unpaid pension increment arrears and outstanding palliative allowances. At the same time, local contractors operating under the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) reportedly staged a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance, demanding payment for completed and inaugurated projects.

Abdullahi condemned the situation of contractors who are allegedly camped at the ministry in Abuja to press for their payments, describing it as unacceptable and humiliating. He questioned why over N500 billion is still owed to contractors if government officials continue to claim that the nation’s finances are stable.

He also faulted the continued delay in settling pensioners’ approved increments and palliatives, noting that many of the approvals were made more than a year ago without implementation.

The ADC spokesman said the party stands in solidarity with both contractors and pensioners and is prepared to join peaceful nationwide protests if urgent steps are not taken to resolve the issues.