Reps summon Tinubu debate sparks tension in the House as lawmakers clash over constituency projects and disputed budget allocations
Nigeria’s House of Representatives descended into a heated debate on July 8, 2026, after lawmakers disagreed over a proposal to invite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explain concerns surrounding delayed funding for constituency projects across the country.
The controversy began when Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, representing Abia State, moved a motion urging the President to appear before the Green Chamber to address complaints about the continued delay in financing constituency projects.
The motion received support from some lawmakers who argued that the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to oversee public spending and ensure accountability in government programmes.
However, the proposal triggered strong opposition from other members, who questioned the need for the President’s appearance and argued that constituency project implementation falls mainly under the responsibility of relevant ministries, departments and agencies.
Yusuf Gagdi, representing Plateau State, led opposition to the move, maintaining that there was no constitutional basis for inviting the President over issues handled by government agencies.
The disagreement quickly escalated into a tense exchange on the floor, with lawmakers raising their voices and interrupting proceedings as different sides defended their positions.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas intervened several times to restore calm before directing lawmakers to vote on the matter. He later ruled the proposal to invite President Tinubu out of order, stating that the request was not part of the original motion presented before the House.
Despite the disagreement, lawmakers later agreed to investigate another financial controversy involving a ₦1.3 billion allocation linked to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Presidency has said does not exist.
The investigation followed a motion sponsored by Gagdi, who described the inclusion of the allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Framework as a serious concern for Nigeria’s budget process.
The House resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate how the allocation entered the budget, examine the verification process for newly listed agencies and review the legal status of ministries, departments and agencies included in recent appropriation documents.
Lawmakers also directed that no funds should be released to the PFIPC until the investigation is concluded.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu added further context to the controversy, revealing that he had previously met individuals representing the organisation after receiving official-looking correspondence carrying government-style details.
Kalu said the experience showed that official branding alone could not confirm whether an organisation was genuinely recognised by the government.
The dispute surrounding PFIPC intensified after Adeniyi Adeyemi presented himself as Director-General of both the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. The Presidency, through Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, later stated that neither body was established under President Tinubu’s administration.
The latest developments highlight growing tensions around budget oversight, government accountability and the role of the National Assembly in monitoring public expenditure.
While the attempt to summon President Tinubu was rejected, lawmakers have moved ahead with investigations into the disputed allocation and the wider process through which public funds are assigned.
