Vendors threaten to occupy NBA secretariat over alleged indebtedness

Vendors, who provided services at the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) annual conferences are threatening to occupy its secretariat in Abuja over alleged debts.

According to a spokesman for the vendors, Olakintan Seyikumi, in a statement, the NBA allegedly owes members, who provided services at the 2022 conference millions in naira, and also reportedly failed to fully pay them for the 2023 conference until March 2024, six months after the event.

The spokesman claimed: “We have been patient for too long. We have written letters, made phone calls, and even protested before. But still, the NBA has refused to pay us. We have no choice but to occupy the NBA secretariat until our debts are paid.”

He disclosed that the vendors had protested last year over the reported outstanding to no avail.

The NBA has not commented on the matter. However, the vendors’ spokesman warned that they would take drastic action if the association fails to pay their alleged debts.

“We are calling on the NBA leadership to take immediate action to settle our debts and restore the association’s reputation,” Seyikumi said.