Proceedings in the House of Representatives turned rowdy on Wednesday after lawmakers clashed over a motion seeking to invite President Bola Tinubu to explain delays in budget implementation and the release of funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The motion, sponsored by Hon. Mascot Ikwechegh, raised concerns over the pace of budget execution, arguing that delayed funding was affecting the performance of government institutions and worsening insecurity across the country.
Presenting the motion on the floor of the House, Ikwechegh called for the President to appear before lawmakers to explain the challenges surrounding budget implementation.
“Agencies are not being funded. Our people are kidnapped every day. Heads are being chopped off on national television every day. We want to invite the President of Nigeria as our father to come and explain to us why we are spending trillions of naira on coastal roads while Nigerians are dying,” he said.
His submission sparked a heated confrontation, with several lawmakers opposing the motion and repeatedly urging him and his supporters to sit down.
The disagreement disrupted proceedings, leading to a tense debate that lasted for about 30 minutes before order was restored.
At the conclusion of the deliberations, Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, ruled the motion out of order.
Abbas explained that the prayers presented on the floor differed from those contained in the original motion submitted by its sponsor, describing the changes as a deviation from the approved text.
As a result, the Speaker declined to entertain the motion, effectively bringing the debate to an end.
The incident highlighted divisions within the House over legislative oversight of budget implementation and the government’s response to the country’s security and development challenges.