House of Reps in uproar over bid to summon Tinubu

Proceedings in the House of Representatives turned rowdy on Wednesday as lawmakers clashed over a motion seeking to summon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explain the alleged non-funding of constituency projects across the country.

The tension began when Alex Mascot Ikwechegh (LP–Abia State) moved a motion calling on the President to appear before the Green Chamber to address the persistent delay in funding constituency projects.

The motion was seconded, while another lawmaker proposed an amendment that the House suspend plenary for one week until the issue was resolved.

The proposals immediately sparked a heated debate, sharply dividing lawmakers.

During the session, Benedict Etanabene, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State, also raised a point of privilege over a June 29 circular issued by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.

Etanabene argued that the circular had generated widespread public concern and required urgent legislative scrutiny. He maintained that, given the significance of the issues arising from the directive, President Tinubu should be invited to appear before the House to provide explanations.

While some lawmakers backed the proposal, insisting that the National Assembly has the constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight on matters affecting public finance and governance, others strongly opposed it, arguing that summoning the President was unnecessary and inconsistent with constitutional practice.

Leading the opposition, Yusuf Gagdi (APC–Plateau State) argued that there was no basis for inviting the President since the implementation and funding of constituency projects fall within the responsibilities of the relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

Gagdi also rejected the proposal to suspend plenary for one week, describing the suggestion as unnecessary.

His position drew strong opposition from several lawmakers, triggering shouting matches and heated exchanges across the chamber as members repeatedly interrupted one another.

The atmosphere became increasingly tense, forcing the presiding officer to intervene several times in an effort to restore order.

As the disorder persisted, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas stepped in and directed that the House vote on the matter to determine its position.

However, Abbas ruled the proposal to invite President Tinubu out of order, explaining that it did not form part of the original motion moved by Ikwechegh.

Although calm was eventually restored after repeated appeals for order, the chamber remained tense as lawmakers resumed deliberations.

Meanwhile, the House resolved to investigate the inclusion of more than ₦1.3 billion for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a body declared non-existent by the Presidency, in the 2026 Appropriation Framework.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi, who described the development as a serious threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s budget process and public financial management.

Lawmakers resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to trace how the allocation entered the budget, invite the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation to explain the verification process for new agencies, and verify the legal status of all ministries, departments and agencies captured in the 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Frameworks.

The House also directed the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure that no public funds are released to the PFIPC pending the outcome of the investigation and mandated the Budget Office to submit, with future appropriation bills, a certified list of all agencies proposed for funding together with their enabling laws.

Supporting the motion, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu disclosed that he had previously met representatives of the organisation after receiving an official-looking letter bearing the Presidency’s insignia, a Federal Secretariat address and a “.gov.ng” website.

Kalu said the delegation later appeared more interested in taking photographs than discussing the policy issues contained in their correspondence, adding that the incident demonstrated that “having the Presidency on a letterhead is no longer sufficient proof that an agency is genuine.”

The PFIPC controversy centres on Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as Director-General of both the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). However, the Presidency, through Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, has disowned both bodies, insisting neither exists under the administration of President Tinubu.

The Senate had earlier maintained that the ₦1.3 billion allocation for the PFIPC was “neither recommended nor inserted” by the National Assembly.