Lawmakers in the House of Representatives unexpectedly adjourned plenary on Tuesday without discussing a single item on the day’s Order Paper due to tensions around the 2026 budget.
It was an strange development, last witnessed only when the chamber suspended sittings in honour of a deceased member.
In the closed-door meeting that preceding the adjournment, lawmakers engaged in heated word banter, which fueled rumours that the House was becoming further divided on how to handle the budget process.
Join our WhatsApp community
The loan request is anticipated to be a major topic of discussion when the House reconvenes today to resume legislative action.
Reliable sources within the chamber suggested that the session focused on the expiration of the one-week deadline given to the Ministers of Finance, Budget, and National Planning as well as the Accountant General of the Federation to settle outstanding debts owed to indigenous contractors, despite the lack of an official explanation.
After the closed-door meeting, Anambra State’s Ifeanyi Uzokwe repeatedly asked to be recognised in order to raise a point of order, which caused tension in the chamber. The Speaker disregarded his attempts and went on to make announcements, such as a notice of an emergency meeting of the South West caucus.
Uzokwe continued unabated, and the Speaker told him to go to the chair in private. Shortly after, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the House Leader, made a motion to adjourn, which was approved, ending the meeting.
According to reliable information obtained by The PUNCH, President Bola Tinubu had expected the House of Representatives to approve his administration’s proposal to borrow N1.15 trillion on Tuesday in order to finance the 2025 budget deficit.
However, that expectation was unfortunately dashed as lawmakers, unsettled over issues reportedly relating to their own welfare and constituency funding, refused to consider the request.
Recall that last week, President Tinubu had, in a letter to the House, requested parliamentary approval for the borrowing plan.
Join our WhatsApp community
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read the letter, which claimed that the N1.15 trillion loan was necessary to close the 2025 budget plan’s financing gap.
More recently, Members voiced their displeasure at the Federal Government’s failure to release funds to carry out the capital components of the 2024 and 2025 budgets at Tuesday’s plenary, despite last week’s one-week deadline.
Before plenary began, Ismaila Dabo, the lawmaker representing Toro Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, shared a troubling reflection on the state of the members via the House’s WhatsApp group.
He also voiced his displeasure with the large disparity in funding between Green Chamber members and Principal Officers.
He further proposed immediate financial adjustment, saying, “The leadership should make necessary sacrifices by collapsing some budgetary provisions and increasing members’ monthly allowances from N12.5m to N30m. This is achievable, and we can substantiate the feasibility if required.”
Join Our Social Media Channels:
