On Wednesday, 8 July, 2026 the House of Representatives rejected a proposal to invite President Bola Tinubu to explain the alleged suspension of funding for zonal intervention, popularly known as constituency projects, during a rowdy plenary over delays in the implementation of the 2026 budget.
The drama followed the consideration of a motion sponsored by the member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Alex Ikwechegh, on the poor funding of appropriated budgets and delayed release of capital funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Earlier, the member representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State, Benedict Etanabene, raised a constitutional point of order, informing the House that he had seen a circular from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation announcing the suspension of funding for zonal intervention projects pending fresh verification requirements.
Etanabene urged the House to exercise its constitutional oversight powers by inviting President Tinubu and members of his economic team to explain the reported suspension.
“I wish, Mr Speaker, that the Constitution be tested. I want to urge this House to agree that we summon Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria together with his financial team to please come to this House… to brief Nigerians exactly what is happening because the stories are not complimentary at all,” he said.
He added, “We cannot explain to the constituents what is happening… Presently, in Nigeria today, we are implementing 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets running concurrently. This is not in the best interest of everybody.”
The proposal triggered heated exchanges, with lawmakers shouting across the chamber as members took opposing positions.
Moving the substantive motion, Ikwechegh argued that the credibility of the appropriation process depended on the timely release and utilisation of budgeted funds.
“The powers of appropriation in the National Assembly, and the credibility of the budget rests not only on the size of the figures appropriated, but on the fidelity and timeliness with which appropriation funds are released, cash-backed and utilised for ministries, departments and agencies,” he said.
He noted that ministers and heads of MDAs had disclosed during the 2026 budget defence sessions that many agencies received little or no capital releases in the 2025 fiscal year.
Ikwechegh also recalled that President Tinubu had directed the immediate settlement of verified contractor liabilities estimated at about N1.5tn and approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to harmonise records and facilitate payment.
Despite the directive, he said, releases to MDAs had remained slow, stalling projects and worsening contractors’ financial challenges.
The lawmaker further criticised a June 29, 2026 Treasury circular issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation requiring a Certificate of Verification and Compliance from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs before payments could be made for constituency projects.
According to him, the directive introduced fresh bureaucratic bottlenecks that could further delay project execution.
However, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas ruled that the proposal to invite the President was out of order, saying it was not part of the substantive motion before the House and was inconsistent with parliamentary procedure.
The House subsequently adopted the substantive resolutions of the motion, urging the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget Office of the Federation, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria to prioritise the timely release and cash-backing of appropriated funds.
Lawmakers also called for a clear schedule for the release of funds for the 2026 fiscal year and the speedy settlement of verified contractor liabilities.
The House further urged the Office of the Accountant-General to review the June 29 Treasury circular and harmonise it with the President’s directive to prevent further delays in the execution of constituency projects.
To strengthen oversight, Abbas constituted a 12-member ad hoc committee chaired by the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abubakar Bichi, to interface with relevant fiscal authorities and report back to the House within four weeks.
Source: The Punch online
