Reps session turns rowdy as Abbas stops bid to invite Tinubu
Reps Express Concerns Over Budget Delays and Poor Implementation
By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja
The House of Representatives entered a heated session Wednesday after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas halted a proposal for President Bola Tinubu to address the chamber regarding the implementation of the 2025 budget.
The disruption occurred during a debate on a motion of urgent public importance introduced by Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh of the Labour Party. Ikwechegh raised alarms about insufficient funding for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and the ongoing delays in the release of appropriated funds.
Presenting his motion, Ikwechegh noted that recent disclosures from ministers and heads of MDAs during the ongoing budget defense sessions indicated that many agencies had not received their capital allocations for 2025, despite legislative appropriations.
He emphasized that these delays have hindered critical projects nationwide, leaving contractors—who financed government projects through loans—waiting for payment on completed and verified contracts.
Ikwechegh recalled that President Tinubu had directed the Federal Executive Council in December 2025 to settle verified contractor liabilities, estimated at around ₦1.5 trillion. However, he pointed out that despite this directive and legislative approvals, fund releases to MDAs remained sluggish or, in some instances, nonexistent.
He also highlighted a Treasury Circular issued on June 29, 2026, by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which suspended payments for zonal intervention and constituency projects pending the issuance of verification certificates from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Ikwechegh urged the House to commend the President for his efforts to resolve contractor liabilities and to call for the prompt implementation of his directive.
Tensions escalated when Ikwechegh suggested inviting President Tinubu to explain the budget implementation delays. Speaker Abbas intervened, reminding him that such a proposal was not part of the motion’s scope and instructing him to adhere to the approved content.
The Speaker’s response elicited divided reactions among lawmakers. Some supported the idea of inviting the President, while others contended that accountability for budget implementation rests with ministers and agency heads, not the President.
The disagreement intensified when Hon. Godwin Oga Mobi proposed postponing the House Open Week to allow lawmakers to focus on budget implementation issues. This amendment received support from Hon. Sani Lawan.
Hon. Yusuf Gagdi of Plateau State expressed his support for the original motion but opposed inviting the President, stating that legislative oversight should target officials directly responsible for policy execution.
Gagdi further requested a division of the question, allowing members to vote separately on the invitation to the President and the other motions. This request triggered loud protests, with members shouting across the chamber in heated exchanges.
Speaker Abbas called for order and ultimately ruled against splitting the question, affirming that the House would proceed according to its rules.
Once calm was restored, the House completed its consideration of the motion.
In its resolutions, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General, and the Central Bank of Nigeria to prioritize timely releases and cash-backing of appropriated funds. They also called for the publication of a clear schedule of releases for the 2026 fiscal year and the timely verification and payment of outstanding contractor liabilities.
Additionally, lawmakers requested that fiscal authorities ensure the over ₦1 trillion in borrowing approved by the National Assembly be allocated strictly for verified capital project obligations, providing a full account of its usage to the legislature.
The House advised the Office of the Accountant-General to review the June 29 Treasury Circular to align it with the President’s directive, proposing clear timelines for issuing verification certificates to prevent further delays.
Furthermore, the House announced plans to establish an ad hoc committee, chaired by the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, to engage relevant fiscal authorities regarding fund releases, contractor payments, and the utilization of approved borrowings. This committee is expected to report back within four weeks with recommendations for legislative action.