The House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session on Tuesday following a heated debate over the alleged non-funding of constituency projects across the country.
The lawmaker representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, moved a motion calling on President Bola Tinubu to appear before the House to explain the continued lack of funding for constituency projects.
Ikwechegh said revelations made by ministers and heads of MDAs during the ongoing 2026 budget defence sessions showed that several agencies received little or no capital releases throughout the 2025 fiscal year, leading to stalled projects across the country.
He also cited repeated protests by indigenous contractors over unpaid certificates for completed and verified projects, saying many contractors had been pushed to the brink of insolvency after borrowing from banks to execute government contracts.
The lawmaker recalled that President Bola Tinubu had, at a Federal Executive Council meeting in December 2025, directed the immediate settlement of verified contractor liabilities estimated at about N1.5 trillion.
He argued, however, that despite the presidential directive, legislative approvals and assurances from the Ministry of Finance, releases to MDAs remained slow or non-existent.
Ikwechegh further expressed concern over a Treasury circular reportedly issued on June 29, 2026 by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which halted payments for zonal intervention and constituency projects pending verification by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
As part of his prayers, he urged the House to commend the President for directing the settlement of contractors’ debts but also appealed for the speedy implementation of the directive.
The atmosphere in the chamber changed, however, when Ikwechegh went further to propose that President Tinubu be invited to appear before the House to explain the delays in budget implementation, continued funding challenges and the impact on critical infrastructure and security projects.
While some lawmakers supported the invitation, others argued that constitutional procedures required the National Assembly to summon only ministers and heads of relevant government agencies responsible for implementing the budget.
Rowdy Session in House of Representatives as Lawmakers Clash Over Motion to Summon President Tinubu
The House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy today, with heated debate over the alleged non-funding of constituency projects across the country.
Hon. Alex Mascot, member… pic.twitter.com/HqxgIYcvfk
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) July 8, 2026
The disagreement intensified after Godwin Oga Amobi proposed an amendment seeking the postponement of the House’s planned Open Week to allow members focus on resolving the budget implementation crisis.
Another lawmaker, Hon. Sani Lawan, seconded the amendment.
Tensions escalated further when Yusuf Gagdi opposed the prayer seeking to invite the President, insisting that Nigeria’s constitutional system assigned executive responsibilities to ministers and heads of agencies who should be held accountable by Parliament.
He called for the motion to be divided so that lawmakers could vote separately on the controversial prayer to invite the President and on the other resolutions.
His remarks triggered loud protests from members, leading to shouting matches across both sides of the chamber as lawmakers attempted to outshout one another.
The Speaker ruled the prayer to invite President Tinubu out of order, as it was not part of the original motion moved by Hon. Alex Mascot. https://t.co/pkfTXXgOXp pic.twitter.com/OGhU5sRDvc
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) July 8, 2026
Amid the disorder, Speaker Abbas repeatedly called for order and eventually ruled against splitting the question for separate votes, insisting that the House would proceed in line with its established procedures.
The Speaker ruled the prayer to invite President Tinubu out of order, as it was not part of the original motion moved by Hon. Alex Mascot.
