ABUJA:  The House of Representatives descended into a rowdy session on Wednesday as lawmakers clashed over a motion seeking to summon President Bola Tinubu to clarify the alleged non-funding of constituency projects and delayed releases of capital funds to government agencies.

The dispute arose during the consideration of a motion sponsored by Representative Alex Ikwechegh of Abia State, who raised concerns over the poor implementation of appropriated budgets and persistent delays in releasing capital allocations to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The debate intensified following a constitutional point of order raised by Representative Benedict Etanabene of Delta State. Etanabene informed the chamber of a circular from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation that reportedly suspended funding for zonal intervention projects pending new verification procedures.

Disagreements Over Executive Accountability

The motion divided the chamber along various lines, reflecting widespread legislative frustration over the slow pace of project execution across the country. While the core objectives of the motion received broad backing, attempts by some lawmakers to oppose specific elements were met with strong protests from colleagues, requiring Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to repeatedly intervene to restore order.

Leading the debate on the motion, which focused on the urgent need to address poor budget funding identified during the 2026 budget defense sessions, Ikwechegh argued that the credibility of the legislative appropriation process relies entirely on the timely release and utilization of approved funds. He noted that during recent budget defense sessions, various ministers and agency heads reported critically low funding levels for the 2025 budget, with some sectors receiving zero capital allocations.

Ikwechegh also highlighted ongoing protests by domestic contractors who face financial distress and mounting bank loans due to unpaid certificates for completed government projects. He recalled that during a Federal Executive Council meeting in December 2025, President Tinubu had directed the immediate settlement of approximately 1.5 trillion Naira in verified contractor liabilities and established an inter-ministerial committee to resolve the issue.

Furthermore, Ikwechegh pointed out that the National Assembly had previously approved over 1 trillion Naira in borrowing specifically to clear these outstanding obligations. Despite these directives and legislative approvals, fund releases have remained slow, stalling critical infrastructure projects and eroding public trust.

Concerns Over Bureaucratic Delays

The lawmakers also criticized a treasury circular dated June 29, 2026, which mandates a Certificate of Verification and Compliance from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs before payments for constituency projects can be processed. Ikwechegh argued that while the directive might be well-intentioned, it introduces bureaucratic bottlenecks that contradict the presidency's call for administrative speed.

Etanabene urged the House to exercise its constitutional oversight powers under Sections 4, 88, and 89 of the 1999 Constitution by inviting the President and his economic team to explain the rationale behind the funding suspensions. He expressed concern over the administrative confusion caused by the concurrent running of elements from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 budgets.

Speaker Declares Summon Unparliamentary

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas intervened to block the proposal to summon the President, ruling that such an action is inconsistent with parliamentary practice and could not be adopted by the House.

Adopted Resolutions

Following the debate, the House adopted the substantive resolutions of the motion, which directed several measures to fiscal authorities:

• Prioritize Fund Release: The Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Central Bank of Nigeria must prioritize the timely release and cash-backing of appropriated funds.

• Publish Schedules: Fiscal authorities are required to publish a clear schedule of fund releases for the 2026 fiscal year.

• Settle Liabilities: The relevant agencies must conclude the verification and settlement of outstanding contractor liabilities within a publicly disclosed timeframe.