The House of Representatives was thrown into a heated and rowdy session on Wednesday after lawmakers sharply disagreed over a motion seeking to summon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explain the alleged non-release of funds for constituency projects across the country. The motion, which also raised concerns over delays in budget implementation, sparked prolonged exchanges among members, temporarily disrupting plenary proceedings.
The controversy followed complaints that funds appropriated for constituency and zonal intervention projects had not been released, with some lawmakers warning that the development was stalling projects intended to deliver critical infrastructure and public services to communities nationwide. During the debate, some legislators backed the call for the President to appear before the House, while others argued that the responsibility for implementing and funding such projects rests with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), making a presidential summons unnecessary.
After nearly 30 minutes of heated deliberations, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, declined to allow the motion to proceed. He ruled that the version presented on the floor differed from the one originally submitted, describing it as a deviation from the approved text. The decision brought the debate to an end, although concerns over delayed budget implementation and the release of constituency project funds remain unresolved.
