Tension surrounding the 2026 budget on Tuesday forced an abrupt adjournment of plenary at the House of Representatives, as lawmakers failed to consider any item on the day’s Order Paper.
The development, which observers described as highly unusual, was last witnessed only when the chamber suspended sittings to mourn a deceased member.
According to The PUNCH, tempers flared during a closed-door session that preceded the adjournment, fuelling speculation of growing divisions among lawmakers over the handling of the budget process.
The House is expected to reconvene today, with President Bola Tinubu’s N1.15 trillion loan request projected to top discussions.
Tuesday’s Order Paper had listed 30 bills for first reading, 16 reports for consideration, eight bills for second reading, and six motions for debate.
Proceedings began with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and other principal officers in attendance, after which members went into a closed-door meeting that lasted for about an hour.
Although no official explanation was given, sources within the chamber told The PUNCH that the session focused on the expiration of a one-week ultimatum issued to the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation, to clear outstanding debts owed to indigenous contractors.
Upon resumption, tension rose when Ifeanyi Uzokwe (Anambra) repeatedly sought recognition to raise a point of order but was ignored by the Speaker, who instead proceeded with announcements, including notice of an emergency South West caucus meeting.
Uzokwe’s persistence prompted the Speaker to ask him to approach the chair privately. Shortly after, House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere moved a motion for adjournment, which was adopted, effectively ending the session.
The PUNCH gathered that President Tinubu had expected the House to approve his administration’s request to borrow N1.15 trillion to fund the 2025 budget deficit. However, the plan was stalled as lawmakers, reportedly angered over issues related to welfare and constituency funding, refused to consider the request.
In a letter read last week by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Tinubu sought parliamentary approval for the borrowing plan, describing it as crucial to bridging the funding gap in the 2025 fiscal year.
Titled “Request for the Approval of the National Assembly for a Borrowing Programme to Fund the 2025 Budget Deficit,” the letter, also presented at the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stated that the N1.15tn facility would help close the unfunded deficit gap created by the increased budget size.
Lawmakers expressed frustration at the Federal Government’s failure to release funds for the capital components of the 2024 and 2025 budgets despite the ultimatum issued last week.
Before plenary, Ismaila Dabo (Toro Federal Constituency, Bauchi State) lamented the financial struggles of lawmakers in a message to the House’s WhatsApp group titled “My concern and the sad reality about the 10th National Assembly.”
Dabo noted that while the National Assembly budget had risen from under N160 billion to about N360 billion between 2024 and 2025, many members were facing severe financial hardship.
“The majority of members cannot afford to pay their rents; many are unable to travel to their constituencies, and several are facing serious challenges with their banks due to loan defaults,” Dabo wrote. “Local moneylenders are pursuing members over unpaid debts.”
