The Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria has said the Federal Government has paid ₦152bn to contractors with verified contracts, while dialogue is ongoing to resolve outstanding obligations.
The association disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference in Abuja convened to address the protest that disrupted activities at the Federal Ministry of Finance on Monday, January 19.
Addressing journalists, civil society groups and content creators, the National Secretary of BAVCCA, Tabuko Kennedy, said the association was compelled to intervene to “clarify the facts, correct misconceptions, and promote constructive engagement rather than sensational narratives.”
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Finance confirmed that ₦152bn was paid to contractors on Wednesday after due verification.
“Contract payments are subject to established approval processes designed to safeguard public funds and ensure transparency,” he said.
While acknowledging the hardship faced by contractors over delayed payments, Kennedy said the ministry had reiterated its commitment to dialogue as the most effective means of resolving all outstanding issues.
He faulted attempts to personalise the protest against the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, noting that she had been in office for less than one month when the incident occurred.
Findings from the association’s review, he said, showed that the contractors’ grievances predated the minister’s appointment and were already being managed by the Coordinating Minister and other relevant government structures.“Personalising the issue against her was therefore unfair and misleading,” Kennedy said.
He added that upon assuming office, the minister appealed for patience, requested time to study the issues and expressed willingness to work with all stakeholders toward a lasting solution.
BAVCCA also addressed reports alleging that a gunshot was fired during the protest, saying security agencies had launched investigations to determine the source of the sound.
The association urged the public and the media to avoid spreading unverified claims.It further disclosed that it constituted an independent Panel of Enquiry made up of content creators, investigative journalists, civil society observers and policy analysts to examine the incident.
According to the panel’s findings, contractors’ complaints were genuine, as many had executed verified projects and were experiencing financial strain due to delayed payments.
On the status of payments, BAVCCA said disbursements were ongoing, with several contractors already receiving full or partial payments.The Federal Government, it added, disclosed that about 80 per cent of verified obligations had been processed, while the remaining balances were undergoing reconciliation.
The panel also found that payment execution does not fall under the sole authority of the Minister of State for Finance but involves multiple agencies and statutory procedures.
“We found no evidence of bad faith, obstruction, or personal misconduct by the Minister,” the association stated.
While affirming the right of citizens to protest, BAVCCA cautioned that blocking public offices and preventing officials from carrying out their duties undermines governance and public safety.The association called on the Federal Government to conclude all outstanding verified payments, urged contractors to embrace dialogue and proper documentation, and appealed to the media to report responsibly.It said the January 19 incident reflected systemic administrative challenges rather than personal failure or negligence on the part of the Minister of State for Finance.
