ADC blasts FG over unpaid debts, threatens to join contractors’ and pensioners’ protests

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticised the Federal Government over its mounting debts to local contractors and pensioners, describing the situation as evidence of insensitivity to the suffering of Nigerians.

The party made its position known in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

The ADC warned that it is prepared to join the ongoing demonstrations by contractors and pensioners if the government fails to take urgent action.

The party expressed concern over the plight of local contractors who have been camping for weeks at the Federal Ministry of Finance, carrying coffins to symbolise the death of their businesses due to unpaid debts.

It noted that pensioners — who have threatened to stage a naked protest over unpaid arrears — are also victims of what it described as government neglect.

“We stand in strong solidarity with pensioners who are now threatening to march naked in protest if the Federal Government fails to pay what it owes them in long arrears of pensions.

“No serious government allows things to deteriorate to the point where citizens must resort to coffins and naked protests before they are taken seriously. But this only further confirms that the APC government is insensitive and does not care about the damage that their actions or inactions do to the country’s image, and more importantly, to the livelihood of ordinary citizens,” the statement read.

The party faulted the Federal Government’s repeated claims of surpassing revenue targets while failing to settle huge outstanding debts.

It questioned why more than N500 billion owed to contractors for completed projects remains unpaid, and why pensioners are still awaiting increments and palliatives approved over a year ago.

“If our national finances are truly as strong as the government claims, why are contractors still owed over N500 billion? Why are pensioners still waiting for increments and palliatives approved long ago? You cannot claim revenue excellence while ordinary Nigerians are drowning in unpaid debts. Something is not adding up,” it noted.

The ADC also accused the APC-led administration of prioritising political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections instead of addressing the debt crisis.

“Instead of addressing this crisis, the APC-led government is busy distributing campaign vehicles, mobilising coordinators, and building structures for 2027. A government that cannot pay its contractors and cannot honour its obligations to pensioners has absolutely no moral right to be campaigning for another term,” the statement added.

The party stressed that it is fully aware of the hardship and humiliation faced by the affected groups and warned that their suffering cannot continue unchecked.

It said the ADC is prepared to join them in protest if the government fails to urgently resolve the issues.

The statement concluded that the party will continue to stand with Nigerians who have been pushed into hardship by the failures of the APC-led administration, adding that “whenever this government breaks the trust of the people, we will work to restore it, and whenever they neglect their duties, we will step up to defend those affected.”