The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced serious concern over the worsening conditions faced by local contractors and pensioners across the country.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.
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 the continued non-payment of outstanding pension increment arrears and approved palliative allowances.
Similarly, local contractors operating under the banner of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) recently staged a peaceful protest at the entrances of the Federal Ministry of Finance, alleging prolonged delays in payments for completed and commissioned government projects.
Abdullahi warned that the ADC may be forced to join the planned nationwide protests if urgent steps are not taken to resolve the issues affecting both groups. He specifically decried the situation of contractors reportedly camping at the Finance Ministry in a desperate bid to receive payment for work already executed.
“We also stand in solidarity with pensioners who have threatened to protest if the federal government continues to withhold their long-overdue entitlements,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC spokesman questioned claims by government officials that the nation’s finances remain strong, noting that contractors are reportedly owed more than N500 billion for completed projects. He also expressed concern over why pensioners have yet to receive increments and palliatives that were approved more than a year ago.
He concluded that the party is prepared to participate in solidarity demonstrations with the affected groups should the government fail to take swift action to address their grievances.
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