The African Democratic Congress says it may join protests by local contractors and pensioners if the federal government does not pay long-overdue debts, the party announced Sunday.
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s national publicity secretary, spoke in a statement after contractors staged a peaceful protest at the gates of the Federal Ministry of Finance and pension groups threatened a nationwide demonstration.
The Coalition of Federal Pensioners had warned it would hold a “naked protest” on 8 December to press for unpaid pension increments and palliative allowances.
Abdullahi criticised what he called the “plight” of contractors who have camped at the finance ministry to demand payment for finished projects.
He asked why contractors still await payment of “over N500 billion for completed projects” if, as some officials claim, national finances are strong.
He also voiced alarm about the slow payment of pension increases and palliatives approved more than a year ago.
“We also stand in solidarity with pensioners threatening to march naked in protest if the federal government fails to pay long-overdue arrears owed to them,” the ADC statement said.
The party warned that, unless the government acts quickly, it could join both groups on the streets in solidarity.
Abdullahi urged the authorities to clear outstanding contract payments and settle pension arrears to avoid economic pain for retirees and small businesses that depend on government work.
