Nigeria House of Reps Holds Rowdy Session Over Motion to Summon President Tinubu on Budget Delays

Lawmakers in Nigeria’s House of Representatives erupted into a rowdy session after Deputy Benedict Etanabene (Delta) raised a point of privilege about a June 29 circular from the Accountant‑General that halted payments for Constituency and Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs) until vetted by the Ministry of Special Duties. The circular, seen as an extra bureaucratic hurdle, was blamed for stalling the implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act and delaying capital releases to ministries, departments and agencies.

Etanabene and Abia Rep Alex Ikwechegh moved a motion of urgent public importance to summon President Bola Tinubu to explain the persistent delays, the poor release of appropriated funds and the impact on contractors who have protested over unpaid certificates for completed projects. Ikwechegh noted that despite a December 2025 presidential directive to settle verified contractor liabilities of about N1.5 trillion, many agencies had still not received the necessary releases, leaving projects abandoned and businesses in financial distress. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas ruled the initial point of privilege non‑debateable, then overruled the motion at the close of the heated debate.