There was pandemonium on Monday when some aggrieved contractors who supplied COVID-19 Machines and other medical equipment to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) staged a peaceful protest.
They barricaded the entrance gate of the FCTA secretariat, demanding full payment of their contract money.
The protesting contractors lamented that the money owed them is almost three years, adding that their efforts have been washed down the drain.
They were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions, like: ‘Dear Minister, put an end to this wickedness, pay COVID-19 contractors, their money is close to three years already’; ‘We are tired of fake promises,’ and ‘we need our money now,’ among others.
The contractors, as early as 8 am, stormed the Area 11 secretariat where the offices of FCT Ministers and the Permanent Secretary are located and barricaded the major entrance gate.
Micheal Ewoma, one of the contractors who spoke with reporters, accused the FCTA management of reneging in the agreement of prompt payment after three years of supplies.
Ewoma said: “It may interest you to know that by March 2023 it will be three years the FCTA is owing us our money. Considering the politics going on presently, we do not want to be tied to nonpayment because of the electioneering period we are appealing to the government to pay us the money, because a lot of people are in debt and our staff has not been paid salaries for months.
