Presidential Intervention Prevents Legislative Shutdown
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's prompt intervention successfully averted a major crisis within the National Assembly that had been brewing due to growing concerns over budget implementation delays. According to Hon. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, the situation had reached a critical point before the President's decisive action.
Contractors' Protest Highlights Financial Strain
The tension stemmed from widespread complaints about stalled constituency projects and non-payment of indigenous contractors who had executed 2024 capital contracts. The situation escalated dramatically last week when hundreds of members from the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) barricaded the National Assembly's main gate, disrupting vehicular movement around the complex.
Agbese revealed that many contractors faced severe financial hardship, with some forced to sell assets or shut down their companies entirely due to delayed payments. The House of Representatives took these grievances seriously and, under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas's leadership, immediately engaged the Executive branch to prevent further escalation.
Swift Resolution and Political Unity
Following intervention by Speaker Abbas and principal officers, President Tinubu directed Finance Minister Wale Edun and Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi to begin immediate payments to affected contractors. Agbese confirmed that some contractors have since received payments, significantly calming tensions among lawmakers.
The House had initially planned to shut down plenary for seven days over the issue but reversed this decision after receiving positive feedback from the Executive. Agbese praised Speaker Abbas's leadership, emphasizing that lawmakers remain united behind him and committed to advancing President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
He defended the administration, explaining that the delays resulted from inherited liabilities and outstanding commitments from previous fiscal cycles rather than negligence by the current government. During a closed-door session last Wednesday, lawmakers demanded full implementation of outstanding 2024 capital provisions and early commencement of 2025 capital spending to prevent project abandonment.
Agbese urged the government to maintain momentum and ensure the capital component of the 2025 budget is implemented without further delay, highlighting the importance of timely budget execution for national development.
