Tension over the 2026 budget disrupted proceedings at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, forcing lawmakers to abruptly adjourn plenary without considering a single item on the day’s Order Paper.
The unusual development — typically reserved for mourning deceased members — followed a heated closed-door session that reportedly exposed sharp divisions within the chamber over budgetary matters, welfare concerns, and a pending N1.15 trillion loan request from President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The House is expected to reconvene today, with the borrowing proposal likely to dominate discussions.
Tuesday’s Order Paper listed 30 bills for first reading, 16 reports for consideration, eight bills for second reading, and six motions. However, after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas arrived and led a one-hour executive session, plenary ended abruptly when the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, moved a motion for adjournment.
Sources told The PUNCH that lawmakers clashed over the government’s failure to release funds for capital projects in the 2024 and 2025 budgets despite a one-week ultimatum given to key ministries.
Tensions escalated when Ifeanyi Uzokwe (Anambra) sought recognition to raise a point of order, but Speaker Abbas ignored him, prompting protests from some members before the adjournment motion was adopted.
Loan Request and Budget Concerns
President Tinubu had expected the House to approve his administration’s request to borrow ₦1.15 trillion to fund the 2025 budget deficit. The proposal, contained in a letter to both chambers of the National Assembly, sought approval to raise funds from the domestic debt market under Section 44 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.
The letter, read by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, stated that the facility was necessary to bridge a ₦14.1 trillion deficit created by lawmakers’ increase in the 2025 budget from ₦49.74 trillion to ₦59.99 trillion.
However, aggrieved lawmakers reportedly declined to consider the request, citing frustration over unpaid entitlements, poor constituency funding, and financial hardship among members.
Leaked Message Exposes Lawmakers’ Frustration
Further insight into the discontent emerged from a message shared by Ismaila Dabo (Toro Federal Constituency, Bauchi) on the House’s WhatsApp group, titled “My Concern and the Sad Reality About the 10th National Assembly.”
Dabo lamented worsening financial conditions among lawmakers despite the National Assembly’s budget increase from ₦160 billion to about ₦360 billion between 2023 and 2025.
“The majority of members cannot pay rent or travel to their constituencies. Many are in debt or facing litigation from unpaid loans,” Dabo wrote. “Members have been reduced to beggars — an embarrassing situation.”
He criticised the proliferation of committees under Speaker Abbas, arguing that multiple overlapping committees had weakened legislative oversight and reduced the chamber’s effectiveness.
“The creation of too many committees has diluted our relevance. Ministries and agencies no longer take us seriously,” he stated.
Dabo also decried what he called a “dangerous disparity” in allocations between principal officers and ordinary members. “Imagine a principal officer executing projects worth ₦50 billion, while ordinary members struggle with ₦1 billion unfunded portfolios. It’s unfair,” he said.
To address the situation, Dabo proposed raising lawmakers’ monthly allowances from ₦12.5 million to ₦30 million and reducing the number of standing committees.
Closed-Door Reactions and Leadership Defence
Sources said Dabo’s message was deleted by House spokesman Akin Rotimi but quickly circulated on other internal platforms.
During the executive session, Speaker Abbas reportedly dismissed allegations of fund mismanagement and directed the Chairman of the House Services Committee, Hon. Amos Daniel, to explain how the ₦120 billion increase in the National Assembly’s 2024 budget was used.
Daniel cited capital projects such as car parks, a new hospital, and a recreation centre, as well as the procurement of official vehicles. However, some members criticised the expenditure on “standing fans and dustbins,” arguing that the funds could have been used to improve members’ running costs.
Efforts to reach House spokesman Akin Rotimi and Hon. Amos Daniel for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.