House of Representatives rejects call to summon President Tinubu over constituency project funding
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected a proposal to invite President Bola Tinubu to explain the alleged suspension of funding for zonal intervention, or constituency projects. This occurred during a plenary session marked by debate over delays in the implementation of the 2026 budget. The proposal was made by Benedict Etanabene, who cited a circular from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation announcing the suspension of funding for these projects pending new verification requirements. Etanabene urged the House to use its oversight powers to summon President Tinubu and his economic team to provide explanations. The suggestion led to heated exchanges among lawmakers. Alex Ikwechegh, who sponsored the main motion, argued that the credibility of the appropriation process relies on the timely release and utilization of budgeted funds. He noted that many agencies received little or no capital releases in the 2025 fiscal year and criticized a June 29, 2026 Treasury circular that introduced new bureaucratic hurdles for constituency project payments. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas ruled the proposal to invite the President out of order, stating it was not part of the substantive motion and inconsistent with parliamentary procedure. The House subsequently adopted resolutions 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 prioritize timely fund releases
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