Tension over the 2026 budget on Tuesday forced the House of Representatives to abruptly adjourn plenary without addressing any item on the day’s Order Paper.
The unexpected adjournment followed a heated closed-door session, sparking speculation of growing divisions among lawmakers over the handling of the federal government’s borrowing plan and members’ welfare.
The House, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, had earlier gone into an executive session that lasted nearly an hour. Sources said the meeting focused on the federal government’s failure to honour a one-week ultimatum to pay debts owed to indigenous contractors and the rising discontent among members over poor welfare conditions.
Tension escalated when Ifeanyi Uzokwe (Anambra) repeatedly sought to raise a point of order but was ignored by the Speaker. Moments later, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere moved a motion for adjournment, ending the sitting abruptly.
The development came on a day President Bola Tinubu’s administration expected the House to approve a ₦1.15 trillion loan request to fund the 2025 budget deficit. Lawmakers, however, reportedly refused to consider the request amid frustration over unpaid allowances and unmet constituency funding.
The borrowing plan, earlier presented to both chambers of the National Assembly, sought approval to raise ₦1.15 trillion from the domestic debt market to cover the shortfall created by the expanded ₦59.99 trillion 2025 budget.
Adding to the unrest, Bauchi lawmaker Ismaila Dabo had earlier shared a message in the House’s WhatsApp group lamenting members’ financial struggles. He claimed many lawmakers were unable to pay rent or travel to their constituencies despite a sharp increase in the National Assembly’s budget from ₦160 billion to ₦360 billion between 2023 and 2025.
Dabo also criticised what he described as unequal budget allocations between principal officers and rank-and-file members, saying the disparity had left many legislators “financially stranded and politically vulnerable.” He proposed increasing members’ monthly allowances from ₦12.5 million to ₦30 million and reducing the number of standing committees to improve efficiency.
During the closed-door session, Speaker Abbas reportedly denied allegations of budget mismanagement, explaining that the ₦120 billion increase in the Assembly’s 2024 allocation was used for infrastructure projects, including car parks, a new hospital, and staff welfare.
As of press time, the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, had not responded to calls or messages seeking the chamber’s official position on the matter.
