The House of Representatives does not require President Bola Tinubu to personally appear before it to resolve concerns over the national budget, according to the chamber's Deputy Spokesperson, Hon. Philip Agbese. He made this statement during a briefing with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Background of the Budget Dispute
The controversy erupted during a plenary session on Wednesday, July 8, when Hon. Mascot Ikwechegh, a lawmaker from Abia State, moved a motion seeking to summon President Tinubu to explain poor budget execution, particularly regarding constituency projects. The motion divided the House, with some members supporting it and others opposing it. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas intervened, noting that Ikwechegh had introduced a prayer not present in the original motion submitted before the session.
“It is a complete deviation from the copy you gave me,” the Speaker told him, as reported by Legit.ng.
Agbese's Position on Budget Oversight
Agbese argued that ministers, heads of ministries, departments, and agencies, along with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, are directly responsible for budget implementation and thus the appropriate officials to face legislative scrutiny. “The House does not need Mr President to appear before it to resolve budget-related issues. The relevant ministers and the Office of the Accountant-General are the right people to answer questions members are asking because they are directly involved in budget implementation,” he said.
He emphasized that the National Assembly holds constitutional oversight authority over government expenditure and intends to continue engaging relevant officials to ensure full disbursement of funds for constituency projects and other budget lines.
Praise for Speaker Abbas
Agbese also commended Speaker Abbas for his handling of the contentious session, describing it as a mark of genuine parliamentary leadership. “Speaker Abbas showed rare leadership as the presiding officer. He handled the proceedings with calmness, fairness and a clear commitment to protecting the integrity of the House,” Agbese stated.
NASS Open Week to Proceed
On a separate matter, Agbese dismissed calls to cancel the NASS Open Week scheduled for July 14, insisting the annual event initiated under the 10th House would proceed as planned. He said members remained committed to their legislative duties despite current tensions. “NASS open week has come to stay. It has helped to showcase our activities to major stakeholders across the globe including cooperation from other parliamentary institutions and partners,” he said.
